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- FUNCTION-
-
- Fats are generally catego-
- rized as saturated, monoun-
- saturated, and polyunsatu-
- rated. Fats serve many
- functions in the body. They
- supply "essential" fatty acids
- to maintain health. They
- serve as storage substances
- for excess calories and insu-
- late and pad the body and
- organs. Fats help to maintain
- healthy skin, hair, regulate
- cholesterol levels, transport
- fat soluble vitamins (A, E, D,
- and K), and provide the
- feeling of fullness by slowing
- the emptying of food from the
- stomach.
-
-
- FOOD SOURCES-
-
- Animal sources primarily
- supply saturated fats and low
- amounts of monounsaturated
- and polyunsat-urated fats.
- Vegetable sources, usually
- referred to as oils, are higher
- in monounsaturated and
- polyunsaturated fats.
-
-
- RISKS WITH EXCESS-
-
- A diet high in saturated fat
- and cholesterol has been
- linked to a greater risk of
- coronary heart disease. And
- diet high in total fat has been
- linked with an increased risk
- of some types of cancer,
- such as cancers of the breast
- colon, and prostate. FDA
- states while many factors
- affect heart disease and the
- development of cancer, a
- diet low in saturated fat,
- cholesterol, and total fat may
- reduce the risk of these
- diseases. Since fat contains
- twice as many calories by
- weight as carbohydrates and
- protein, high-fat foods can
- contribute to obesity.
-
-
- RISKS WITH DEFICIENCY-
-
- Fats supply specific fatty
- acids required by the body to
- ensure proper functioning
- and to maintain health.
- These "essential" fatty acids
- can only come from foods.
- Americans usually consume
- more fat than necessary in
- their diet. The American
- Heart Association recom-
- mends no more than 30 per-
- cent of total calories coming
- from fat.
-
-
-