The Most Common Fatty Acids in Our Diet

The Biochemistry of Movement > 9.7.3. Fats are also important fuels for cells > The Most Common Fatty Acids in Our Diet >

Identify the most common fatty acids in our diet and in our body stores as the C14-C20 series from diagrams or models

• Fatty acids can be classified as saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and trans fats.
• Saturated fats have no double bonds.
• Unsaturated fats have one or more double bonds. Monounsaturated fats have one double bond, while polyunsaturated fats have two or more double bonds.
• The most common fatty acids that are part of the human diet are usually 14-20 Carbons in length. Three well-known fatty acids in this list are Palmitic acid (palm oil), Stearic acid (animal fats), and Arachidic acid (peanut oil).