fat, fat, FAT!!! (or Triglycerides)

This blog is just a little extra. You might be seeing some big words here. Don't worry, there's a basic idea of what they are next to each of them! Enjoy!

     Fatty acids are made up of Carbon and Hydrogen atoms with an acid group (COOH) at one end. There are over 20 types of fatty acids. These vary by:
     1. Length of chain
     2. If the Carbons have singly or double bonds between them (c-c or c=c)
     3. Total number of double bonds

There are three main types of fatty acids:
     1. Saturated fatty acids-when each Carbon in the fatty chain is bonded with two atoms of Hydrogen, the chain is saturated in Hydrogen. It can't hold any more.

 

 Whole milk has short-chain saturated fatty acids

          Fats made up mostly of saturated fatty acids are called saturated fats.
          You shouldn't have many saturated fats in your diet, as it is not healthy for your heart.
     2. Monounsaturated fatty acids- at one place in the chain, two Carbons are each bonded to one. Hydrogen atom, and are joined twice to eachother.
     Double-Carbon bond means carbons aren't saturated with Hydrogen atoms at that point in the chain. The molecule is called a monounsaturated fatty acid because a double bond occurs at one point in the chain.
     Double bonds cause a kink in the chain of fatty acid. The kink keeps unsaturated fatty acids from packing together tightly, so unsaturated fatty acids are liquid at room temperature.
     Saturated fats are unhealthy, but unsaturated fats are important to your health.

    Oleic acid is a great example of this and is found in olive oil.

     3. Polyunsaturated fatty acids- contains more than double bond and is even less saturated in hydrogen than a monounsaturated fatty acid
this is considered healthy, too

Linoleic acid has two double bonds, polyunsaturated-found in soybean oil
 



     Your body makes most of the fatty acids it needs except for two, which are both polyunsaturated. You have to take those in through your diet, so they're called essential fatty acids.


Triglycerides

     Triglycerides have 3 fatty acids in them (hence "tri")
     This is the most common found lipid in your body.
     A triglyceride has three chains of fatty acids connected to a glycerol ("backbone")
     That "backbone", or glycerol is a compound that's got Carbon, Hydrogen, and a type of alchohol.
     The more commonly used name for a triglyceride is FAT.
     Most of your intake are in the form of a fat.

 




Oils are lipids at room temperature.







Phospholipids
     These have Phosphate in them (hence "phospho")
     The glycerol backbone has 2 fatty acids and a phosphate group!
     The part where phosphate is attached to the glyscerol is the head, hydrophilic ("hydro", for water. "philic", for loving. So this means "water loving").

Sterols
     These are lipids with no glycerol or fatty acids.
     They're composed mainly of 4 connecting rings of Carbon and Hydrogen.
     The most commonly known Sterol is Cholesterol.
     But don't worry about taking in the specific, or "right" amount of cholesterol, because your body makes all the cholesterol it needs!

Once more...

ADORABLE KITTY!