Importance of lipids in human body

Introduction:
Lipids are also one of the important and major macromolecules. you are basically the polymer of fatty acids and insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents .In this article i will discuss about importance of lipids in human body. you are stored in the adipose tissues mostly in abdomen and hip region. They are energy dense even more than carbohydrates and proteins and play many important roles in the human body functioning. Lipids made up of both essential and non-essential fatty acids. Essential fatty acids are those not produced by the human body and have to be provided through diet. These include linoleic acid and linolenic acid and some other conditionally essential fatty acids are DHA and EPA that have positive effect on the developing fetal brain. In this article important aspects related to lipids will discussed.
Physical form or types of lipids:
Lipids include:

Fats and oils| Importance of lipids in human body

Steroids (precursors for hormone production)
Waxes (mainly to prevent desiccation and protect)
Fats and oils make up about 95% of the total lipids while steroids are only 5%. Waxes are functional only.
Depending upon the physical condition that temperature the lipids are divided into two types:
Fats (solid at room temperature and contains saturated fatty acids)
Oils (liquid at room temperature and contains unsaturated fatty acids)

Nutritional importance of fats and oils:|Importance of lipids in human body

As we know that oils preferred over fats from the health point of view. Why does it seem like that? Because Oils contain unsaturated fatty acids. Unsaturated fatty acids mean double bond is highly present in them. They are also rich in HDL (high density lipo-proteins) that enhances the flow of lipids from the blood vessels. But the fats as they are saturated and contain high amount of LDL (low density lipids) that are not healthy from nutrition point of view, the fats get deposited in the blood vessels or in coronary arteries. But when we take the oils rich in unsaturation when they pass through the circulatory system and get across any fat or cholesterol deposit, the double bond of the oils react with the fat or cholesterol deposit and bind it with itself and HDLs remove the blockage in this way. .

Healthy oil sources:|Importance of lipids in human body

Healthy oils are mostly those that are rich in unsaturated fatty acids as omega-3 & omega-6 fatty acids mostly oleic acid and linoleic acid. The two oils that considered healthy are:
Canola oil:
It obtained Canadian rapeseed
consists of an ideal ratio of omega-3 & omega-6 that is 2:1
Also very low in saturated fat
Olive oil:
Its considered the most heart healthy oil.
It contains highest percentage of monounsaturated fatty acids.

Lipids Energy provision and storage:

Body fat is stored energy: The body converts the unused carbohydrates, proteins and triglycerides that make up our macronutrients into small globules of fat that end up in the specialized cells of adipose tissue, the fatty tissue of the body.
One pound of adipose tissue stores, and provides when needed, ~3500 Cal of energy.
Fats usually provide 9 kcal energy per gram, compactly relatively in little space, comparatively with little weight as compared to carbohydrates and proteins.
In our daily diet, the standard lipid portion must not exceed 30%.

Functions of Fats/Lipids:

Fats or lipids have many functions that they play in our body.
Insulation and protection:
Lipids also used for the purpose of insulation and protection. Just beneath our skin there is the fatty layer that protects us from hypothermia and regulates our core body temperature. There is also a lipid layer present around organs e.g there is a lipid capsule present around kidneys that protect them from any sudden injury.
Digestion and absorption:
Lipids are also responsible for the proper digestion and absorption in the human body. Bile acids produced from lipids in your liver allow fat and water to mix in your intestines and helps in the breakdown and absorption of food.

Cell wall structure:

Essential fatty acids e.g oleic acid, linoleic acid etc are important for the human body. They used in the production of cell membranes and hormones, as well for maintaining vision and supporting the immune system. Communication between cells is also dependent upon lipids in your cells’ membranes.
Hormone production:
The steroid form of lipids that is cholesterol is responsible for the production of many hormones specially the sex hormones in both the males and females e.g testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, oxytocin etc.