Introduction
The food which we take from various sources provides us energy and other substances the body needs. The food which we take contains three major nutrients and they are carbohydrate, fat, and protein. The body uses them as a source of energy for maintaining normal metabolic activities. We get carbohydrates from wheat, cereal crops, potatoes, peas, and other starchy vegetables, protein from meat, egg, pulses, etc., and fat from oilseeds, butter, cream, milk, etc.
Fat is also known as fatty acid and it is made up of three important elements: carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, but the amount of carbon is in maximum quantity. It is an important macronutrient and is also an important part of the diet for all animals and humans. Body stores fat for protection, warmth, and energy. Different types of fats, which are, saturated and unsaturated, keep our body healthy in different ways.
It has been proven that not all types of fats are unhealthy and cause heart diseases. In fact, most fats are required in adequate amounts for normal bodily functions, especially brain functions. The amount of fat we eat doesn't impact our weight or our cholesterol or our risk of heart disease nearly as much as what kind of fat we eat.
Now, what is fat? Let's take a tour inside a salmon which is a fatty fish, past the organs, past the tissues, and into the cells. The stuff we call fat is actually made up of compact molecules called triglycerides, which are not similar in nature. There are three carbons on the left side of the cells, they are glycerol. They are usually the backbone that holds the rest of the molecule together. Now, there are three long chains on the right that are called fatty acids, and its subtle differences in the structures of these chains determine whether a fat is solid or liquid, whether it goes rancid quickly, and most importantly, how good or bad it is for you. Now, let’s examine the differences. One is length. Fatty acids can be short or long. Some fatty acids have only single bonds and some have double bonds.
Fatty acids with only single bonds are called saturated, and those with one or more double bonds are called unsaturated. For unsaturated fats, the double bond in these molecules has a weird property; they’re rigid. This brings us to think that there are two ways to arrange every double bond. The first is where both hydrogens are on the same side and both carbons are on the same side. The second way is that the hydrogens and carbons are on opposite sides of the double bond. Even though both of these molecules are made up of exactly the same building blocks, they are two different substances and function in dissimilar ways inside us. They do not turn sour and they are more stable during deep-frying. They can change the texture of food in ways that other fats just can’t. They are also terrible for your health even though technically they are a type of unsaturated fat.
Classification of Fats:
Based on various factors, fats are classified into various categories. They are:
Fats or Fatty Acids: These types of fat refer to any type of fat, but mostly, they are solid fats, which are in solid form at room temperature.
Lipids: This can refer to any type, regardless of whether it is liquid or solid.
Oils: They describe any fat that is liquid at room temperature.
Animal Fats: Among these are butter, cream, and fats in meats, such as lard.
Vegetable Fats: These are fats that are present in olives and avocados.
What are Trans Fats:
They are manufactured fats. They are products that add hydrogen to liquid vegetable oil to make them more solid in texture. They are also known as hydrogenated fats. Major examples of trans fats are cake, cookies, fried potatoes, potato chips, etc.
Essential Fats: There are so many fats that are synthesized by our body, but there are also fats that are taken through diet, and these types of fat are called essential fats as they are taken in an indirect way for the proper functioning of the body. Example: Linoleic, linolenic, and arachidonic acids.
FAQs on Fats
1. Define Saturated Fat?
Saturated fats are mainly solid at room temperature and they lack double bonds between individual carbon atoms. They are harmful for our body.
2. Define Trans Fat?
They are manufactured fats. They are products that add hydrogen to liquid vegetable oil to make them more solid in texture. They are also known as hydrogenated fats.
3. Difference Between Saturated and Unsaturated Fat?
Saturated Fats | Unsaturated Fats |
1. Contains a single bond. | 1. Contain at least double bond. |
2. Would not quickly spoil. | 2. Spoil quickly. |
4. What are the major sources of fats?
There are many sources of fats, and therefore, it is an important component in our diet. It is very important to have an adequate amount of fat intake carefully. Today, you will know about the major sources of fat. Some of them are avocados, cheese, cashew nuts, whole eggs, fatty fish, dark or milk chocolate, chia seeds, cream etc. The food pyramid has authentic information on what foods constitute fats and what food group has the important fat constituents.
5. How many types of fats are there?
Generally, there are two main types of fats: saturated and unsaturated fats. And the rest fall under unsaturated fats, monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats, and trans fat.
6. What are saturated fats?
When all the carbons are fully bound to hydrogens, the fatty acid is said to be saturated. All the bonds between carbon atoms are single, and the hydrocarbon chain has a straight shape. A fat molecule made of saturated fatty acids is saturated fat. Due to having straight tails, saturated fats are dense and solid in nature, at room temperature.
7. What are unsaturated fats?
When the hydrocarbon chain has fewer hydrogens, it is said to be unsaturated. Instead of combining a maximum number of hydrogens, some carbon atoms bind to each other by a double bond. The presence of double bonds may bend the hydrocarbon chain, creating gaps between the molecules, making them less compact. Unsaturated fats are liquid in nature, at room temperature.
8. How do I note the difference between unsaturated and saturated fats?
The saturated fats have a higher melting point, while the unsaturated fats have a lower melting point. Saturated fats have no carbon-carbon double bonds in their fatty acids tails. Unsaturated fats have carbon-carbon double bonds in their fatty acids tails. The fatty acid tails of saturated fats are straight chains. The tails of fatty acid of unsaturated fats are bent in shape. The bents are known as kinks. Students can tabulate these differences in their notes to make this topic easy to understand. This method also helps them in remembering the differences in bullet points.
