THE 10 MOST PROMINENT LIPID CHARACTERISTICS - BIOLOGY - 2024

Among the main characteristics of lipids are their essential role in the protection of cells, in the absorption of vitamins necessary for the proper functioning of the body or in the proportion of vital fatty acids for various processes carried out by the body.

Although it is common to consider lipids as harmful elements, the truth is that many of them play a favorable role in important physical processes, such as metabolism or sexual reproduction.

It is also true that, consumed incorrectly, they can generate serious health complications that can lead to serious illnesses or even death.

It is important to be very clear about the characteristics of lipids to identify the best way to consume them and, with this, allow the different processes of the body to develop harmoniously and with the greatest benefit.

Most important characteristics of lipids

1- Lipids and fats are not synonymous

The terms "lipid" and "fat" are often used interchangeably, as if they had the same meaning. They are not really the same.

Lipids can be of plant or animal origin. Fats are just one of the types of lipids of animal origin.

2- Saturated and unsaturated

Based on the characteristics of lipids, a classification is usually made that includes two types: saturated and unsaturated.

- Saturated lipids

Saturated lipids are considered harmful. They increase the levels of low-density lipoproteins, which can build up in the arteries, hamper the normal flow of blood and increase the risk of heart attacks or heart disease.

These lipids are found especially in products derived from meat, such as pork.

- Unsaturated lipids

Unsaturated lipids, on the other hand, increase high-density lipoprotein levels and are considered beneficial.

These lipids remove excess saturated fat and promote proper heart function. Unsaturated lipids can be found in nuts, avocados, and fish.

3- Insoluble in water

The main characteristic of lipids is that they do not dissolve in water. This is the product of the apolar character, also called hydrophobic, which presents most of the lipids, and which conflicts with the polar characteristic of water, causing them to repel each other.

Amphipathic lipids (those that contain a part that is soluble in water and another not, such as egg yolk, almonds or walnuts for example) are the only ones that are not hydrophobic at all. With the exception of amphipathics, all lipids are insoluble in water.

4- Soluble in organic solvents

Unlike water, there are some organic solvents that are also apolar, such as lipids. So, under that scenario, lipids can be diluted.

Some favorable organic solvents for dissolving lipids are ether, gasoline, and chloroform.

5- They reserve energy

Lipids are the most important energy reserve in animals, since they have a fairly high caloric level.

One gram of fat releases 9.4 calories into the body through an oxidation process. This value is significantly higher than that generated from protein, glucose, or alcohol.

As there is little amount of carbohydrates in the body, it takes the energy it needs from the fats stored in the body. Triglycerides are the main types of lipids that fulfill this energy reserve function.

And when the body does not require this energy, the excess triglycerides are stored in the cells that make up adipose tissues (called adipocytes or lipocytes).

6- They insulate thermally

There are biological membranes that surround cells and that fulfill a protective function, because they isolate organisms from the environment that surrounds them and protect them from impacts on each other.

These membranes are composed primarily of lipids, specifically phospholipids and sterols.

7- Sources of essential fatty acids

The intake of lipids is necessary to achieve a healthy and balanced diet. The main reason why their intake is recommended is because the human body needs them for innumerable functions, and is not capable of producing them by itself, so the lipids must come from outside.

It is estimated that between 25 and 30% of the calorie intake of humans must be made up of lipids.

Its adequate consumption brings broad benefits for the treatment of diabetes, favors the proper functioning of the brain, reduces inflammation, and can even contribute to the prevention of heart disease.

8- They favor the absorption of vitamins

There are some vitamins that need to be dissolved in fatty stages in order to be absorbed, transported and stored in the body. Some of these vitamins are: A, E, K and D, being essential for many processes:

• promote blood clotting
• improve vision
• strengthen the immune system
• keep bones strong
• promote antioxidant processes
• facilitate skin cell renewal, among others.

These vitamins necessarily require lipids to be absorbed by the body.

In the event of consuming more of the vitamins that can be absorbed at any given time, lipids, as elements that favor the reserve, store the excess of these vitamins in the tissues and in the liver, for subsequent absorption.

9- They promote the synthesis of steroid hormones

Progesterone

The human body has a set of hormones called steroids, which are essential for different body processes, and these hormones are synthesized through cholesterol, a lipid from the sterol family.

The main steroid hormones are testosterone, progesterone, androgens, and estrogens, among others. Without the involvement of cholesterol, these hormones could not be properly synthesized.

10- They facilitate transportation

Lipids need to move from the intestine to the destination point, and this is achieved through lipoproteins, complex molecular lipids found in the blood.

If it were not for lipoproteins, the movement of lipids from one organ to another would be interrupted, as well as other fundamental functions of the organism, such as the regulation of metabolism.

References

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