The Effect of Fats in Health Care

Health condition can be defined as a balance between two components: proper nutrition and appropriate physical activity. A correct diet determines the lifestyle and besides providing the daily energy requirement, it can also be prophylactic for some diseases. Fatty acids are found in two forms: saturated and unsaturated. Saturated fatty acids do not contain double bonds and excessive consumption is harmful because it degrades health. The unsaturated ones may be monounsaturated, single bond or polyunsaturated with multiple carbon double bonds. The excess of unhealthy fats can lead to increased cholesterol with a direct result in the formation of atheromatic plaques that underlie cardiovascular disease. There are two types of cholesterol: LDL - the one that forms atheroma and HDL - the one that carries cholesterol from the arteries to be removed from the body. It is known that small and dense LDL particles are so harmful that over 50% of men and 20% of women, even before menopause, may have coronary artery disease by narrowing the arteries, making the disease progress two times faster than in people where there is not a large amount of LDL.