What Are Lipids?
Lipids have a bad name, and are responsible for a high percentage of health problems in people all over the world. One of the main reasons for their unhealthy reputation is their high calorie content which contributes greatly to obesity problems worldwide. Lipids are also a major contributor to heart disease and other health problem.
Despite this, we should never try to completely remove lipids from our diets because, despite the downsides, they are still essential to us. Here’s a closer look at what lipids are, why they can be so bad for us, and why they are also so important to us.
1. What Are Lipids Made From?
Lipids are molecules that are made up largely, if not entirely, from hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons themselves are compounds that are made from hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon atoms. They are important to us in a number of ways, one being that they help to make up the structure of our body’s cells. Lipids are also important for the functioning of our cells.
Some examples of lipids include, wax, fish oils, animal fats, some vitamins, and some hormones. They are very common in the food that we eat, which is a good thing because we would simply not be able to live without them.
2. Oils
All lipids share certain characteristics, such as not being soluble in water. They are soluble in non-polar solvents, however, one example of which is chloroform. Despite this, lipids can still be broken down into 3 main categories: Oils, fats, and waxes.
Oils are lipids that are liquid at room temperature. This includes some cooking oils like sunflower oil or vegetable oil, and olive oil, as well as fish oil, and oils extracted from some nuts. These are often found in the kitchen for use in frying and even as a dressing in salads. Some other types of oils are found in industry as they make excellent lubricators.
3. Fats
Fats are lipids that are solid at room temperature. Examples include some cooking fats like lard, while fats are also found in foods like cheese and butter. There are numerous sources of fats in food, including animal fats, and they provide us with a very good source of nutrition as they tend to be high in vitamin and mineral content.
Fats have a very high calorific value, which is one reason why it is a good idea to avoid having too many in your diet. In addition to containing so many calories, fats are also bad in large quantities because they can cause other problems such as contributing to blocked blood vessels and liver problems.
4. Waxes
Waxes are another type of lipid that are commonly found in the natural world. At room temperature they are almost in between fats and oils because they are solid yet still remain malleable. They also have a very low melting point. Waxes are often produced by animals because waxes can be effective in providing protection in a number of ways.
One example of this is earwax in humans, which helps to protect the ear against debris and particles from getting into the ear where they might do harm. Waxes are not usually consumed by people because we are unable to digest them, but they should do us no harm if consumed in small quantities.
5. High Energy
One of the reasons that we need to eat fats in moderation is that they release a lot of energy when they are metabolized. In the wild, many predators will actually target the fatty parts of their prey first because of the high energy content in addition to high nutrient content.
That fat contains a lot of energy is perhaps the main reason why we have evolved to use fat to store energy on our bodies. When we were living in the wild, fat reserves were very important for us because it meant that we still have a source of energy during times when there was no food available.
6. Saturated vs Unsaturated Fats
When it comes to health issues, we tend to hear a lot mentioned about saturated and unsaturated fats, and one is much better for you than the other. Unsaturated fats are actually a type of oil because they are liquid at room temperature, whereas saturated fats are solid at room temperature.
There are also polyunsaturated fats, of which there are two main types, which are omega-6 fatty acids and omega-3 fatty acids. Monounsaturated fats include oils such as peanut oil and olive oil. Saturated fats are generally found in meats and dairy products.
7. Triglycerides
The types of fats that act as an energy store in our body are triglycerides. These are made from calories that are not being burned and are then stored in our fat cells. When we need some more energy, certain hormones will be released that allow us to use the energy stored within.
Not only can too many triglycerides cause obesity, but they can also cause the artery walls to become thicker and/or harder. This can affect the flow of blood through the arteries, and this will result in some very serious problems in some cases. Exercise and a healthy diet are effective at reducing triglycerides in the body to healthy levels.
8. Cholesterol
Cholesterol is another type of lipid that has a bad name, and high cholesterol levels are one of the biggest contributors to heart disease. While it is true that high cholesterol levels are not usually good for us, this does not paint the full picture. As we have learned more about cholesterol, we have found that there are good cholesterols and bad cholesterols.
‘Good’ cholesterols are important for us because they are needed for the production of some hormones, digestive enzymes, and some vitamins. Including plenty of good cholesterols in your diet will also help to reduce the levels of bad cholesterols in the blood, and are used to help build our cells.
9. Hyperlipidemia
As mentioned, having too much cholesterol in the blood stream can be very bad for our health. Hyperlipidemia is the medical term for people with too many lipids in their blood. More specifically, high levels of LDL cholesterols (the bad variety).
As these cholesterols travel through the blood stream, they can sometimes begin to accumulate on the walls of our blood vessels. If these deposits accumulate enough then they can begin to disrupt the flow of blood, potentially causing some severe problems for the patient. In some cases, the flow can be stopped altogether, potentially causing a heart attack or stroke
10. Brain Food
Our brains are made up largely from fatty tissues, and they need to be fed a steady supply of fats to help keep them in good condition. In particular, it is fatty acids that will help to keep the brain in good health. Omega 3 fatty acids are thought to be especially important for a healthy brain.
This means that including fatty acids in your diet will help us to maintain our cognitive abilities well into old age. They can help to prevent memory loss, and can also help to prevent depression, among other things. Some of the best sources of fatty acids include fatty fishes like salmon, tuna, and mackerel.
