Fat or lipids[En2][En3][En4][En5]are molecules containing a lot of energy and they are not soluble in water.

They have various, important functions:

• building up the cellular membranes;
• conveying hormones and vitamins in the organism
;
• building up an important part of the nervous cells;
• supporting the internal organs;
• protecting from cold and mechanical traumas;
• representing the main energy source, especially at rest;
• providing some essential nourishers, that is the unsaturated fat acids.

Where they can be found

Saturated lipids are generally solid at room temperature, for example they are contained in red meat, butter and margarine, in eggs and cheese.

Unsatured lipids, instead, such as seed and fish oil, are liquid at room temperature.

Unsatured lipids are the best ones, as they are easily transformed into energy and act as “road-sweepers” in the arteries, whilst the saturated lipids settle in the arteries, hardening them and clogging them up. The main responsible for the vessels obstruction is a very famous lipid, the LDL cholesterol, which is contained in fat of animal origin. HDL cholesterol is instead healthy, and it is mainly contained in fat fish living in cold water.

What happens in case of shortage

Shortage of lipids cause suffering to cellular membranes, the hormonal system, the means of conveyance of liposoluble vitamins and the nervous system, and consequently asthenia, weakness and capillary fragility. Women with a diet poor in fat have alterations in menstrual cycle.

What happens in case of excess

The main responsible for damages to heart health is not fat in general, but LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoproteins) which, if it is in excess, settles along the inner side of the coronary arteries (the vessels supplying blood to heart), risking as time goes by to decrease or even to clog the blood flow.

As a consequence a certain number of cardiac cells dies for lack of oxygen, and a possible heart attack may follow.