Examples of Foods That Are Lipids

Lipids are considered nutrients and are necessary in our diet. The body cannot produce these nutrients, so it is important we ingest them. Lipids "consist of fats and oils, are high-energy yielding molecules composed mostly of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O)." Lipids are great source of energy, but also of fat. Lipids are either saturated or unsaturated. Unsaturated lipids are liquid at room temperature. These lipids are cooking oils or fish oil. Saturated lipids are solid at room temperature. Fats get a bad rap because they are the most important cause of high cholesterol, especially saturated fats. However, they are also part of the great food pyramid and are necessary for a healthy body, in moderation.

Fish Oil

• Fish oil is an unsaturated lipid that comes from the consumption of "mackerel, herring, tuna, halibut, salmon, cod liver, whale blubber, or seal blubber or fish oil supplements." Fish oil is a highly debated lipid, Rxlist.com claims that fish oils "can significantly reduce blood levels of a kind of fat called triglycerides. This might help lower the chance of developing heart disease."

Pork

• Pork is the food with the highest level of saturated fat and total fat grams. The meat comes in the form of bacon, ribs, pork sausage and ham. The consumption of high levels of pork, which is high in saturated fat, leads to a high level of Triglycerides in the blood stream. High levels of Triglycerides of are often a tell-tale sign of obesity or high levels of cholesterol.

Beef

• Beef is a form of saturated fat or lipid. Like pork, beef is high in saturated fat and total fat grams. Although beef is a high-energy source of food, it can also be a source of high cholesterol.