Fat

Appears in
Professional Baking
Professional Baking

By Wayne Gisslen

Published 2008

  • About
As the above list shows, fats are a concentrated form of energy, supplying more than twice as many calories per gram as do carbohydrates and proteins. This suggests that reducing fats in the diet is an effective dietary method of weight loss. Always keep in mind, however, that some fat is necessary in the diet, both for regulating certain body functions and for carrying fat-soluble vitamins.

Fats may be classified as saturated, monounsaturated, or polyunsaturated. Saturated fats are solid at room temperature. Animal products—eggs and dairy products as well as meats, poultry, and fish—and solid shortenings are the major source of saturated fats. Tropical oils such as coconut oil and palm kernel oil are also rich in saturated fats. Health experts believe these fats contribute significantly to heart disease and other health problems.