notes/education/nutrition/Lipids.md
2024-10-08 12:47:15 -06:00

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Markdown

- **Lipids** are a class of nutrients that do not dissolve in water.
- They will dissolve in organic solvents
- Oil is less dense than water, so it will rise to the top of a solution
- Major functions of lipids in the body include
- Providing and storing energy
- forming and maintaining cell membranes
- producing steroid hormones
- insulating the body
- cushioning the body against bumps and blows
- forming body contours
- **absorbing fat soluble vitamins and phytochemicals**
## Fatty Acids
A fatty acid is a hydrocarbon chain found in lipids; one end of the chain forms a carboxylic acid, and one end forms a methyl group.
- Short chain fatty acids have 2 to 4 carbons
- Medium chain fatty acids have 6 to 12 acids
- Long chan acids have 14 to 24 carbons
- Fatty acids are identified by:
- The number of carbon atoms
- The type of bond between carbon atoms
- **Saturated fatty acid (SFA)** Every single carbon atom is filled with hydrogen atoms
- **Unsaturated fatty acid** is a fatty acid that is missing hydrogen atoms and has one or more double bonds within the carbon chain
- **Monounsaturated** (MUFA)
- Has one double bond within the carbon chain
- Sources include:
- **Canola oil**
- **Olive oil**
- **Avacados**
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Peanut butter
- **Polyunsaturated** (PUFA)
- Fatty acid that has two or more bonds within the carbon chain
- Sources include:
- **Soybean oil**
- **Fatty fish**
- **Flax seed**
- **Walnuts**
- Corn oil
- Sunflower oil
- Most naturally occurring fatty acids are cis fatty acids
- Hydrogen atoms of the double bonded carbon are on the same side of the hydrocarbon atom
- **Trans fats** are unsaturated fatty acids that have a trans double bond.
- Hydrogen atoms of the double bonded carbons are on the opposite side of the hydrocarbon chain
- **Essential fatty acids** are fatty acids that must be supplied by the diet
- **Linoleic acid** - 18 carbon omega-6 fatty acid found in vegetable oils
- **Alpha-linolenic acid** - 18 carbon omega-3 fatty acid, found in flaxseed, walnuts
- Precursor for
- Eicosapentaonoic acid (EPA) - 20 carbons
- Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA): 22 carbons
- Both acids are found mainly in fatty fish
- Essential fatty acids are needed for growth and healthy cell membranes, especially in the brain.
# Triglycerides
# Phospholipids
# Sterols