For decades fat has been on the limelight. It is noticeable that medical practitioners advise us to limit our intake of fat, while culinary experts utilize lipids to add flavor to their menus. The media, on the other hand, besiege us with myriads of news concerning the role of fat in the emergence of various health conditions. With all these information that we feed on, it is safe to say that we are aware of the presence of fat, but what we often take for granted are the underlying concepts that makes fat both beneficial and disadvantageous to our bodies.

To simply put it, fat also referred to as lipid is a component of the cell membrane and an important source of energy provided by the food we eat. Fat from food is a nutrient necessary for the body to function, and an important contributor for brain development and cholesterol production for the liver. Just like carbohydrates and proteins, lipids fuel the body with energy, thereby enabling a person to facilitate almost all of his or her physical activities. Fat in food is not only a natural taste enhancer, but also an important nutrient that satiates us for longer periods as it dissolves longer than carbohydrates and proteins.

Although fat boasts several benefits for your body, it also has various drawbacks that could actually affect your health. By taking too much fat, you are opening yourself up to a number of health conditions that could put your life at risk. Perhaps the most notable conditions associated with over consumption of fat are weight gain and obesity. Fat is also the cause of high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases as well as some forms of cancer.

Visible or not, almost all kinds of food contain fat in differing amounts. Some food have high amounts of fat, while some contain very little amount of such nutrient. There are four common types of fat found in food, the first two are the saturated and trans lipids, which are actually known as the bad lipids because they increase the risk of an individual to acquire diseases, and the second ones are the monounsaturated and polyunsaturated lipids, which are the exact opposites of the initial two as these types of fat protects our body from diseases. With all these in mind, it is therefore an imperative to keep track of the fat food you consume so as to safeguard your health, and this is when keeping a fat food list can be truly helpful.

As mentioned above, too much saturated and trans lipids can put your life at risk. These lipids can be found in meat and dairy products, pastries as well as certain types of oil. On the other hand, many health experts are advising people that instead of engaging in a diet full of saturated and trans lipids, it is better to consume food high on monounsaturated and polyunsaturated lipids that are usually found in fish, plant products and oil products such as olive oil and palm oil. Ideally, an average man should consume saturated and trans lipids not exceeding to 30 grams per day, while for an average woman, the ideal amount should not exceed to 20 grams per day. By having your own fat food list, you would be able to balance your intake of good and bad lipids. However, it is still much better if you chomp down on food that is high on monounsaturated and polyunsaturated lipids rather than a diet full of saturated and trans lipids.

Generally, lipids present the body with various benefits as well as drawbacks. In moderate amounts, lipids can do wonders for our health; yet, over consumption of food containing bad lipids can also put your life at risk. With all these in mind, it is best to have your own fat food list to keep track of the lipids you consume. As much as possible, try to settle on food that is low on saturated and trans lipids to keep your body safe from diseases.