Lipids, also known as fats or triglycerides, are a type of compound that naturally exists in organic chemistry. These compounds do not dissolve in water, but do dissolve in certain organic solvents, according to faculty research published on the website of Michigan State University Department of Chemistry. Many fats and oils are a common component of the American diet.
Health Effects of Triglycerides
Triglycerides are found in plants and animals; the ones that are solid or semi-solid at room temperature come from animals and are known as fats, while the liquid triglycerides are called oils and mostly come from plants, although those triglycerides that come from fish are also considered to be oils, according to Michigan State University
Fats that come from animals are called saturated fats (since they are composed of saturated acids), while oils are composed of unsaturated acids. Sometimes plant fats are converted to a solid fat (think of vegetable shortening), and this type of fat is used heavily in the United States and United Kingdom.
MSU.edu points out that a diet composed mainly of saturated and trans-fatty acid glycerides (such as the vegetable shortening) can lead to atherosclerosis; the Mayo Clinic defines atherosclerosis as a buildup of plaque inside the arteries. Too much plaque can lead to a heart attack and/or stroke.
Saturated Fats
The American Heart Association says that saturated fats are the No. 1 cause of high blood cholesterol. In the American diet, saturated fats come largely from animal foods; these foods include beef, beef fat, veal, lamb, pork, lard, poultry fat, butter, cream, milk, cheeses, and other dairy products made with 2 percent milk. Some plants also contain saturated fats: coconut, coconut oil, palm and palm kernel oil, and cocoa butter.
Hydrogenated Fats
The American Heart Association says that, as foods are processed, fats may undergo hydrogenation. You can find this kind of fat in margarine and shortening. Hydrogenated fats will raise blood cholesterol.
Trans Fats
Trans fats are found in many animal products like pork, beef, lamb and butterfat from butter and milk. These kinds of fat are also formed during hydrogenation, a process used in the making of margarine, shortening and cooking oils. Trans fats have a tendency to raise total blood cholesterol levels --- perhaps more so than saturated fats do. Trans fats also raise LDL, or "bad" cholesterol in the blood and lower HDL, or "good" cholesterol levels.
Polyunsaturated and Monounsaturated Fats
These kinds of fats are found in many kinds of fatty fish, nuts, seeds and oils from plants, according to the American Heart Association. Specifically, they can be found in foods such as salmon, trout, herring, avocados, olives, walnuts, soybean oil, corn oil, safflower oil, canola oil, olive oil and sunflower oil. Both of these kinds of fats can help lower your blood cholesterol level when used in place of trans fats and saturated fats. Since they still contain a high amount of fat and calories, however, the American Heart Association recommends keeping the total intake between 25 and 35 percent of calories.
