What it means
Fats in food and in the body are made mostly of fatty acids. Saturated fatty acids, found mostly in animal fats, are solid at room temperature; unsaturated ones, found in plant oils, nuts and fish, are liquid. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are essential: the body cannot make them, so they must come from food. When the body burns large amounts of fatty acids for fuel, the liver makes ketones.
At a glance
| Spanish | ácido graso |
|---|---|
| Also written | fatty acids |
Related terms
carbohydrate
One of the main nutrients in food, made of sugars and starches, that the body uses for energy.
ketoacidosis
A state in which ketones build up in the blood and make it too acidic.
protein
A nutrient made of chains of amino acids that the body uses to build and repair tissue.
adipose tissue
Body fat: connective tissue made mostly of fat cells that store energy.