Lipids, those great unknown

Lipids in the diet Today it is very common to talk of fats in the diet as something that should be restricted, but gradually people are understanding that fats should be part of a balanced diet.
WHAT ARE THE LIPID: definition and function
Lipids, commonly called fats are nutrients that according to the parameters that make the Mediterranean diet, must be present in 30-35% of total caloric value in a balanced diet.
lipid functions
The point is that not all lipids have the same functions in our body and must be consumed in the same quantities.
While the caloric intake of lipids is 9 kcal / g, functions are also important and vital for the proper functioning of our body.
For example, are the main energy reserve of our body, they are required to absorb vitamins A, E, D and K; They are needed to form many hormones, and also make food more palatable in taste and texture are concerned.
FATTY: "Yes ... I familiar, but what are they and where are they?"
Fatty acids
The fatty acids part of the lipid structure which in turn, are part of food. Some like omega 3 and omega 6 essential fatty acids, which means we can not synthesize, and must get them from food.
It has been shown that adequate intake of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, present in olive oil, sunflower oil or corn are beneficial to prevent cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular, which are a major cause of death in Europe; and even it has seen a positive effect on pregnancy as they are important for proper fetal neural development.
FATS "BAD"
In counterpoint, there cholesterol, LDL, so little good for our arteries, or hydrogenated fats, found in pastries or margarines.
From the 60s and 70s began to use the hydrogenation process as a means for more or less solid fats from mainly vegetable oils, which gave him another consistency to foods containing them.
These are known as trans fats, much less appreciated in today's food industry, since it has been studied the relationship between consumption and increased blood levels of "bad" cholesterol, LDL, decrease the "good" HDL, and this related to the development of diseases such as diabetes or even cancer.
bad fats and good fats
In conclusion, as dietary recommendations we suggest, should reduce the intake of saturated fat (whole milk, butter, red meat ...), increase the consumption of unsaturated fats (olive oil, sunflower, fish, nuts ...) and limit cholesterol intake.