5: Lipids
- Page ID
- 39934
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Learning Objectives
After completing this unit, you should be able to:
- Describe and appreciate the important functions of fats in our bodies and our diets.
- Identify the three major types of lipids, and describe their structure, food sources, and functions.
- Describe the structure, food sources, and health impacts of saturated, polyunsaturated, monounsaturated, and trans fatty acids.
- Identify and define the essential fatty acids and their major functions.
- Describe the processes of digestion and absorption of fats in the body.
- Describe how lipids are transported around the body and utilized by cells, and what blood cholesterol values indicate about a person’s health.
- Explain the dietary recommendations for fats and the evidence for how dietary fats impact heart health.
- 5.3: Lipid Types and Structures
- Lipids are a family of organic compounds that are mostly insoluble in water, meaning they do not mix well with water. There are three main types of lipids: triglycerides, phospholipids, and sterols. On this page, we’ll learn about the structures of these three types of lipids, as well as their functions in the body and where you can find them in foods.