For decades fat has been on the limelight. Today's experts advise us to lower our fat intake, while culinary experts try to use certain amount of fat to add flavor to the food they prepare. On the other hand, media consistently link various types of fat in differing health outcomes. With all these information that we feed on, it is safe to say that we are aware of the presence of fat, but what we often take for granted are the underlying concepts that makes fat both beneficial and disadvantageous to our bodies.

Basically, fat or technically referred to as lipid is a component of the body's cell membrane and a source of energy that comes from the food we consume. The fat from the food we eat is a nutrient needed by the body as it performs a whole range of functions including contributing in brain development and production of cholesterol for the liver. Like carbohydrates and proteins, fat is a good supply of energy that could power up myriads of your physical activities. Fat in food also adds more than flavor, it also helps an individual feel satiated because lipids take longer to leave your stomach.

Granting that fat holds several benefits for the body, it also has different drawbacks that could be detrimental to a person's overall health. If you are consuming too much fat, you are opening yourself up to myriads of health conditions that could profoundly affect how your body functions that might cost you your life. Among the most noted conditions associated with too much fat intake includes obesity and excessive weight gain. It was also found out that fat is a major contributor for a person to suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and some forms of cancer.

It should be noted that all kinds of food have certain amounts of fat in them; only, not all the time the lipids are visible. Some have very high fat content, while others just have traces of such nutrient. There are four common types of fat found in food, the first two are the saturated and trans lipids, which are actually known as the bad lipids because they increase the risk of an individual to acquire diseases, and the second ones are the monounsaturated and polyunsaturated lipids, which are the exact opposites of the initial two as these types of fat protects our body from diseases. With all these lipids found in the food we consume, it is important that we are aware of the good and bad lipids we eat in order to keep our bodies protected, and this is when keeping a fat food list could truly be useful.

As mentioned above, too much saturated and trans lipids can put your life at risk. These types of lipids are usually found on meat and dairy products, pastries and certain types of oil. On the other hand, many health experts are advising people that instead of engaging in a diet full of saturated and trans lipids, it is better to consume food high on monounsaturated and polyunsaturated lipids that are usually found in fish, plant products and oil products such as olive oil and palm oil. It is important to note that the ideal percentage of fat consumption for an average man should not exceed 30 grams of saturated fat per day, while for an average woman it should be not more than 20 grams a day. By having a fat food list at hand, you are guaranteed to balance your consumption of good and bad lipids. However, it would be preferable to engage on a diet that have monounsaturated and polyunsaturated lipids to avoid acquiring diseases.

Altogether, lipids can be both advantageous and disadvantageous to a person's health. In moderate amounts, lipids can do wonders for our health; yet, over consumption of food containing bad lipids can also put your life at risk. With all these in mind, it is best to have your own fat food list to keep track of the lipids you consume. As much as possible, try to settle on food that is low on saturated and trans lipids to keep your body safe from diseases.

Fat is an important source of energy for the body to be able to perform various physical activities. However, too much fat intake may result to various health conditions that could be detrimental to a person's life. Because of these, it is essential to have your own fat food list in order to keep track of the good and bad lipids that you consume.