Turpentine baths

Fats , or lipids (from the Greek. lipas - fat) are esters of triatomic alcohol (usually glycerol) and high-carboxylic (fatty) acids. The structure of molecules, complex lipids, and may include other components. Fats - are valuable nutrients in a small amount can provide the body with energy. The average person needs in fats - 80-100 grams per day.


The structural components of any lipids are the so-called fatty acids. Fatty acids are divided into saturated and unsaturated. The most common of the lipids are saturated palmitic, stearic and unsaturated oleic, linoleic , and linolenic acid.


As a part of living organisms are the most common neutral fats ortriacylglycerols (synonym - triglycerides ). Glycerine - a polyol.When combined with three fatty acids, glycerin forms triglycerides.


Part of the lipids in the body is associated with proteins and carbohydrates, creating a variety of complexity and strength of the connection. As already mentioned above, the compounds of different fats to proteins called lipoproteins (synonym - lipoproteins). They are a solid ball-shaped formation. In the form of lipoprotein lipids from the blood and lymph are transported to specific organs.


Fats and fat-like substances are divided into simple lipids (not containing nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur), waxes (included in the lipid esters of monobasic acids of high and high monohydric alcohols), phospholipids (having in its composition phosphoric acid), lipoproteins (compounds with proteins ), glycolipids (compounds with glucose or galactose), as well as steroids.


Steroids are a special group of lipids, including sterols (from the Greek. stereos - solid), vitamin D , bile (cholic acid) and various hormones.


The major sterols of animals and humans is cholesterol . The chemical composition of sterols - a polycyclic alcohols. They are used by the body to produce female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone , the male sex hormone testosterone , but also play an important role in the synapses of the brain and the immune system, including protection against cancer.


Thus, cholesterol belongs to a class of lipids (fats) from a groupof sterols , being a fat-soluble unsaturated alcohol. The chemical formula of cholesterol - C 27 H 46 O. Most of the cholesterol in animal tissues is present as esters of fatty acids.