CHOLESTEROL, FATS AND FATTY ACIDS

CHOLESTEROL:

Cholesterol is a polycyclic molecule found naturally in all animal fats and oils.  Chemically cholesterol can attach to certain proteins to form lipoproteins such as high density lipoproteins (HDLs) the “Good” cholesterol, or low density proteins (LDLs) the “Bad” cholesterol.  Chronically elevated cholesterol leads to arteriosclerosis (hardening and thickening of the arteries) as well as other circulatory problems including heart disease, high blood pressure and risk of excessive clotting.  (150 MG/DL is a good average, 200 and up is listed as dangerous.)

FATS:

Fats are made up of a sweet polyalcohol (Glycerol) bonded to one, two or three fatty acids.  The resulting fats called oils in the liquid form are digested mostly in the small intestine, where they are broken down by the liver’s bile (which contains an emulsifier) and the pancreatic lipase enzyme.  The body oxidizes the fats to supply 70% of the body’s energy needs and stores the excess fat in tissues for later use.

FATTY ACIDS:

Essential fatty acids, or “Good Fats” are polyunsaturated fatty acids which the human body cannot biosynthesize.  What this means is that we must obtain them from the food we eat.  Collectively, essential fatty acids are known as Vitamin F.  They constitute the foundation of cellular structures, they help retain proteins within the membranes and therefore have a significant regulatory effect on materials entering and exiting the cell walls.  The fluidity of the cell membrane is important to the health of any cell.  In general saturated fatty acids tend to pack together tightly and are highly inflexible.  Saturated fats are dangerous to cell walls, especially our artery walls as they tend to harden our arteries.  On the other hand, unsaturated essential fatty acids provide for bendable links in our cell walls.  This promotes our cell walls flexibility, fluidity, and permeability, generating greater health for our cells.  This is especially important for the brain.

Essential fatty acids actually account for 25% of the weight of the human brain, and the retina of the eyes.  They are required for the growth and repair of the skin, blood vessels, and nerve tissues.  They are vital for efficient respiration.  Cell wall or membrane fluidity strengthens the white blood cells of our immune system so they are better able to maneuver in our body fluids and therefore are more efficient in attacking viral and bacterial invaders.  They are also known to help reduce blood cholesterol by increasing the solubility of cholesterol deposits allowing them to be washed away from our artery walls, thus helping to prevent cardiovascular disease and helping to reduce the risks of heart disease and stroke.  They are always involved, either directly or indirectly in energy production, being the most abundant source of energy found in nutrition.

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