LIFESCI 15 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Unsaturated Fat, Saturated Fat, Master Sergeant
Document Summary
Stearic acid has 17 c"s, 3 fatty acids. Depends on whether there are double bonds in hydrocarbon tail. Our bodies like to break down unsaturated fat, its harder for enzymes to get into the saturated fat and break it down. Most animal fats are solid at room temperature, most plant/fish oils are unsaturated & liquid (body is more likely to use them for energy) Q: many snack foods contain partially-hydrogenated vegetable oils. Make it slightly more solid at room temperature ex. M&m"s melt in your mouth not in your hand. Release hydrogen gas knocks out double bonds and converts the chocolate to saturated fats. Lipids are water-insoluble molecules important in energy storage, in membranes, and as hormones. Fatties don"t die from starvation in the famine. Having a preference for calorically-rich foods will increase our fitness. Evolution has shaped our food preferences, making us love energetically rich fats. Raises blood sugar slowly and lasts much longer.
