Fat Science

OMG Omega 3: Polyunsaturated fats are widely regarded as "healthy fats". These are essential in our diets for a range of functions.  There are two main types of polyunsaturated fats: omega-3 and omega-6.  Some types of omega-3 and omega-6 fats can't be made by the body and are therefore essential in small amounts in the diet. Omega-6 fats are found in vegetable oils.  Omega-3 fats are found in oily fish. Good plant sources of omega-3 fats include flax seeds, walnuts, and canola or soybean oil. Most of us get enough omega-6 in our diet, but we're advised to have more omega-3 by eating at least two portions of fish a week, including one of oily fish.  But why? What are the benefits of omega-3? Task: On paper write 6 bullet points about omega-3. Include the following: The ratio of omega-3 to 6, Which foods we should consume to up our intake, The associated health benefits of omega-3. You may find the following websites useful. If you choose to do yo

Which fats in what foods? Last week your research found out that saturated fatty acids only contain single carbon to carbon bonds, whereas  unsaturated fatty acids contain one or more double bonds. We can add more detail to this; unsaturated fatty acids can be cis , with both hydrogens either side of the double bond being on the same side, or tans , where the hydrogens either side of the double bond are on opposite sides. Trans fats are frequently formed artificially using a process called hydrogenation . This process is used to make oils, which are usually a liquid at room temperature, harder and solid, for use in spreads or industrial baking. This process involves reacting fats with hydrogen, either resulting in  complete hydrogenation, where all double bonds are removed, or partial hydrogenation , where the position of the hydrogens either side of the double bond shifts from cis to trans.  These changes in structure increasing the molecules melting point meaning it is solid a