When it comes to fats and cholesterol, a lot of people automatically want to keep their distance, because all they can think of is weight gain, heart disease, high blood pressure, and other ill effects. But in fact, fat is an important nutrient, just like protein and starch, that our bodies need for energy. So let's look at fat in depth.

The function of fats

Fats play many roles inside our body. These include:

• Fat stores heat, which can be used as energy when necessary. The layer of fat directly beneath our skin also serves as a kind of insulation, which helps maintaining our body temperature.
• Most fat are found in adipose tissue, which surround and protect our body's internal organs.
• Fat serves as a medium for transporting and absorbing fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E and K.
• Fat is an essential ingredient in the production of cholesterol, vitamin D, bile acid, and some hormones.
• Fat ensures the proper functioning of our nervous system and our skin.

Source: Central Health Unit, Department of Health, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Of the People’s Republic of China.