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Let’s Learn about the Food Containing Fat

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Last updated date: 17th Apr 2024
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An Introduction to Fat and Fatty Food

Fat is a type of lipid that is found in food. It is an important part of the diet because it provides energy and helps the body to absorb vitamins. Some foods contain fat, such as meat, dairy products, and oils. Other foods contain unsaturated fats, which are healthier than saturated fats.

The food items that contain fat as the major nutrient is fat-containing food. This kind of food provides us with energy and also helps us absorb vitamins. Fats at a young age have various roles to play in the development of our bodies. Therefore, intake of food containing high quantities of fats is not good for living a healthy life. In this article, we will see the fat-containing food list and also learn which foods contain fat.


Which Foods Contain Fat?

All those food items that we prepare using oil or butter, or ghee will have fat content. The fries, the gravy, and all sorts of fast food items are mostly rich in fat. It is said to give us energy and keep our bodies warm. It helps in building the cells of the body and is also an essential component for their protection. These food items which contain excessive amounts of fat are not good for our health and diet.

Too much consumption of fat content in the diet leads to the accumulation of fat in the body, causing obesity. It can also get deposited in the artery walls making blood flow difficult, and that can cause numerous problems in our body.


List of Food Containing Fat

The following are the fat containing foods list:

  1. Potato chips

  2. Cheese

  3. Dark chocolate

  4. Nuts

  5. Fried chicken

  6. Deep-fried food

  7. Pizza 

  8. Burgers 

  9. Deserts 

All these food items are loaded with fats in them. They are mostly unhealthy fats and become a contributor to various diseases related to the heart.


Types of Fat

Fats are known to be majorly divided into two groups, i.e. saturated fats and unsaturated fats. 

  1. Saturated Fats: These are the kind of fats that are solid at room temperature. They are majorly considered unhealthy fat. It is because they tend to accumulate in our body, and too much consumption of these kinds of fats can lead to blockage in arteries in our heart and also other parts of our body. The food items that contribute to such kinds of saturated fats include red meat, whole milk, dairy products such as cheese, ice cream, butter, eggs, palm oil, and coconut oil.

Saturated Fat


Saturated Fat


  1. Unsaturated Fats: These are those kinds of fats that are liquid at room temperature. These are needed by our body and are an essential dietary element.  Unsaturated fat containing foods obtained from vegetables, fish, nuts etc. The unsaturated fats are then of two different types, i.e. Monounsaturated fats and Polyunsaturated fats.
     

Good Food and Bad Food


Good Food and Bad Food


Types of Unsaturated Fats

Monounsaturated Fats: These fats are liquid at room temperature but get solid if put in the refrigerator. Food items such as olives, peanuts, avocados, almonds, pumpkin and sesame seeds. These help in the reduction of cholesterol levels and reduce the heart disease risk.

Polyunsaturated Fats: These are also liquid fats at room temperature and obtained from plant and animal sources. The plants used for obtaining polyunsaturated fats are sunflower, corn, soybean, walnuts, flax seeds and fish. Some special kinds of fats obtained from fish are known to be very healthy for our heart function and are known as omega-3 fatty acids. We need to consume more polyunsaturated fats rather than saturated fats which will be good for our overall health and reduce the risk of various diseases.


Summary

Fats should provide only 30% of your daily diet; anything more than that becomes risky for the body. If the fats are healthy, they can help you reduce weight. Fats can be a more important source of energy than carbohydrates or proteins. Our brain has 60% of fat in it. Fat can be of three different colours in our body, i.e. white, brown and beige. The white fat is the storage fat, whereas the brown and beige fat burn to give calories or energy to our body for daily activities. 

FAQs on Let’s Learn about the Food Containing Fat

1. What are fat foods to avoid? 

Foods high in saturated fats need to be avoided. For example: fatty cuts of meat, meat products, including sausages and pies, butter, ghee, and lard, cheese, especially hard cheese like cheddar, cream, soured cream and ice cream, some savoury snacks, like cheese crackers and some popcorns, chocolate confectionery, biscuits, cakes, and pastries.

2.  Why is fat needed for our body?

Fats at a young age have various roles to play in the development of our bodies. It is said to give us energy and keep our bodies warm. It helps in building the cells of the body and is also an essential component for their protection. This kind of food provides us with energy and also helps us absorb vitamins. The fats obtained from fish are very healthy for our heart function and are known as omega-3 fatty acids. 

3. Why do humans consume fat-containing foods?

We get our energy from food to work and play. It guards against illnesses and aids in quick recovery from illness. We consume many foods, and each food has various ingredients. Nutrients are those compounds that offer nourishment necessary for the growth and preservation of life. Fat-containing food is useful for various developments. Excess fat in the body leads to diseases.