Function of Fats

Fats are chemical compound which formed from glycerol and fatty acid. They are usually soluble in organic solvents and largely insoluble in water. These chemical substances can form either in solid phase or liquid phase at room temperature, depending on their structure and composition.

Function:

* Body's energy provider and energy reserve which helps the body maintain a constant temperature
* To generate body heat, referred to as “burning calories”
* Protecting various organs throughout the body from temperature extremes and physical impact or trauma
* Primary constituent of cell membranes and therefore is critical for all forms of life
* Maintaining healthy skin and hair
* Provide the "essential" fatty acids, which are not made by the body and must be obtained from food
* Monounsaturated fat help raise levels of protective HDL cholesterol
* Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats can help reduce blood cholesterol (except HDL cholesterol) when substituted for saturated fats in the diet
* Provide the raw materials that help in the control of blood pressure, blood clotting, inflammation, and other body functions
* Helps in the absorption, and transport through the bloodstream of the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K
* Involved in the production and regulation of steroid hormones
* Have important structural roles in maintaining nerve impulse transmission, memory storage and tissue structure