Fats or lipids enter the body through the food that we eat. There are many sources of lipids like meat fat, vegetable fat, and dairy products. Fats in the body are metabolized through these simple steps.
Mouth
These foodstuffs are grinded into morsels by the mouth and the teeth. Although salivary amylase is present, it does not have any action on lipids but only on carbohydrates. The fats then go down into the stomach.
Stomach
Due to the high acidity of the stomach, metabolic breakdown of fats still do not occur. Fats then move to the small intestines with the help of peristalsis.
Small intestines
Fats are then broken down into small micelles and acted upon by bile salts and bile acids coming from the bile pigment in from the gall bladder. These bile salts act with co-lipase and lipase to complete the digestion of fats.
Absorption
Digestion of the fats into fatty acids occurs. Fatty acids are the simplest forms of fats. They are now absorbed by the intestinal villi and distributed where they are most needed.
Unused fats
When the person is sedentary most of his fats are not metabolized because the primary source of energy of the body are carbohydrates, so the body has to use the carbohydrates first before it utilizes fats as source of energy. That is why when a person does not exercise; fats are not burned off as energy and are therefore stored as triglycerides in the adipose tissues and the liver.
These unused fats could also form plaques in the lining of the blood vessels leading to atherosclerosis, which eventually leads to cardiovascular disorders. This is how fats in the body are metabolized
Significant points to remember:
Meat fat is considered bad fat because they contain less protein. They are the low-density type of fats. Use fish fat or vegetable fat; they are safer because they contain the high density in protein type of fats. Exercise regularly to burn off excess carbohydrates and fats. Most fast foods are rich in bad trans fats, so be judicious in selecting your food. Do not eat so many sweets like cakes and chocolates, because when unused, these converted into triglycerides, which is one type of bad fat. Eat more fruits and vegetables to help reduce the effects of fats. Fruits and vegetables have anti-toxins and natural constituent that helps the body remove impurities.
Know how your fats in the body are metabolized and stay healthy.
