Question

In food shopping for butter, margarine, or oils, what would be your choices? What factors are the most important in your decision?

Answer 1

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Fatty acids are Carboxylic acids with hydrocarbon side chain. Fatty acids can be divided into two types on the basis of presence or absence of double bond.

A. Saturated fatty acids- These fatty acids do not contain double bonds.

B. Unsaturated fatty acids- These fatty acids contain one or more double bonds.

They take part in different reaction more as compared to saturated fatty acid.

This also help to reduce high blood level of cholesterol.

Fatty acids with one double bond are mono unsaturated fatty acids.

Fatty acids with 2 or more double bonds are known as polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Essential fatty acids

The fatty acids that cannot be synthesized by the body are known as essential fatty acids. Therefore, it should be supplied in the diet.

Mostly they are polyunsaturated fatty acids namely linoleic acid and linolenic acid. Arachidonic acid becomes essential only if its precursor, linoleic acid, is not provided in the diet in sufficient amount.

My choices will be

Butter of plant origin as they contain unsaturated fatty acids.

Margarine because they contain a large amount of linoleic acid and a minor portion of linolenic acid.

Oils can also be included because they contain unsaturated fatty acid.