Fat Flashcards
1
Q
Lipids
A
- all fats and oil
- divided into 3 groups:
- triglycerides, phospholipids, sterols
- most foods contain lipids
- 9 calories/gram (more energy dense than protein/carb)
2
Q
Functions of Fats and Oils
A
- concentrated sources of energy
- building blocks for cell membranes
- padded protection for organs and cells
- nerve insulation and transmission
- regulation of body temp.
- provide satiety
- stimulation of gastric reflex
- carriers of fat soluble vitamins, betacarotene, CoQ10
- precursors of steroid hormones and prostaglandins
- make up 60% of brain
3
Q
Short Chain Fatty Acids
A
- made by colonic bacteria from soluble fiber
- bile not required for digestion
- easier to digest for those with compromised liver
- absorbed directly into lymph system
- easily burned for energy
4
Q
Medium Chain Fatty Acids
A
- our body metabolizes and burns these for energy
- these oils are not stored as fat
- often used by athletes for energy
5
Q
Long Chain Fatty Acids
A
- EFAs fit here
- more difficult to digest than short or medium chain fats
- can be stored as fat more readily
6
Q
Saturated Fats
A
- primarily used for energy
- solid at room temp.
- least vulnerable to oxidative damage even when heated
- dairy, coconut, palm oil, tallow
- safe to sauté with
7
Q
Monounsaturated Fats
A
- liquid at room temp.
- less stable than saturated fat
- damaged by high heat and refining
- only 1 double bond
8
Q
Polyunsaturated Fats
A
- 2 or more double bonds
- less stable than PUFAs and saturated fat
- omega 6 and omega 3: do not heat!
9
Q
Trans Fats
A
- a straightened configuration of a normally curved, unsaturated fatty acid
- lab/industrially made
- our bodies have no enzymes that recognize these
10
Q
Digestion of Fats
A
- occurs in mouth, stomach, mostly small intestine
- lingual and gastric lipase, bile salts, pancreatic lipase
- pancreatic enzymes break down at 10 g/fat/hour
11
Q
Fat Distribution and Storage
A
- distributed via lymph system and blood stream
- in liver, fat is packaged with lipoproteins (HDL, LDL, etc) which then carry to cells
- receptors on cell membranes receive and unload
- if cells don’t need this fuel, fats are stored as body fat
12
Q
Triglycerides
A
- comprise 95% of fats in food and in our bodies
- 1 glycerol molecule + 3 fatty acids
- digested by lipase
13
Q
Triglyceride Functions
A
- insulation material
- store energy reserves
- excess sugars converted to these
- store body’s reserve of EFAs
- carriers for fat-soluble nutrients
- exercise lowers serum triglycerides/burns excess fat, converts to energy
14
Q
Phospholipids
A
- fat derivative
- building block of cell membranes
- holds proteins in place in membranes
- emulsifiers
- keep cell membranes soft and pliable
- conduction of nerve impulses
- part of myelin sheath surrounding nerve fibers
15
Q
Sterols
A
- fat-like substances present in animal tissue
- cholesterol, vitamin D, steroid and sex hormones
