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Fats Facts & Worksheets

Fats are a nutrient that you obtain from your diet

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Fats are a nutrient that you obtain from your diet. It is necessary to consume certain fats, but too much can be detrimental. The fats you consume provide your body with the energy it requires to function properly.

See the fact file below for more information on Fats or alternatively, you can download our 26-page Fats worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

About Fats

  • Fats provide energy and aid in the absorption of certain vitamins. Essential fatty acids aid physiological function. They are not produced by the body and must be consumed. This means you have to eat food containing fats in order for it to enter your system and be of use to it. Dairy products, meats, poultry, shellfish, and eggs, as well as seeds, nuts, avocados, and coconuts, all contain fats naturally.
  • Your body burns calories from carbohydrates you’ve consumed through activity. However, after 20 minutes, exercise relies on fat calories to keep you going.

Essential Fatty Acids

  • Your body acquires important fatty acids called linoleic and linolenic acids from the fats you eat. They are referred to as “essential” because your body cannot produce them or function without them. They’re required for brain development, inflammation regulation, and blood clotting.

Types of Fats

  • Saturated and unsaturated fatty acids make up all fats. Saturated and unsaturated fats differ in the amount of each type of fatty acid they contain.

Saturated Fats

  • Saturated fats enhance the level of LDL or low-density lipoprotein (bad) cholesterol in your body. High LDL cholesterol raises the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other serious health issues as it raises cholesterol levels in the arteries (blood vessels). Cholesterol is a waxy, squishy material that can cause arteries to become clogged or obstructed. This disrupts the flow of the blood. As a result, foods high in saturated fat should be avoided or limited.
  • Animal products, such as butter, cheese, whole milk, ice cream, cream, and fatty meats, are high in saturated fats. Saturated fats can be found in some vegetable oils, such as coconut, palm, and palm kernel oil. At room temperature, these fats are solid.

Unsaturated Fats

  • Eating unsaturated fats instead of saturated fats can help lower your LDL cholesterol. Most vegetable oils that are liquid at room temperature have unsaturated fats. There are two kinds of unsaturated fats: monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats. Monounsaturated fats have one double bond in their structure and are usually liquid at room temperature.
  • On the other hand, polyunsaturated fats contain two or more double bonds in their structure. Under this you will find the Omega-3 fatty acids and the omega-6 fatty acids. These are essential fatty acids that the body needs for brain function and cell growth. Our bodies do not make essential fatty acids, so you can only get them from food.

Benefits of Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids

  • Omega-3 fatty acids can benefit your heart in several ways. They help reduce triglycerides, a type of fat in your blood and this also helps reduce the risk of developing an irregular heartbeat (aka arrhythmia). They also slow the buildup of plaque, a substance comprising fat, cholesterol, and calcium, which can harden and clog your arteries. Lastly, they can lower your blood pressure.
  • Omega-6 fatty acids may aid in controlling blood sugar, reducing the risk of diabetes, and lowering blood pressure.

Trans Fats

  • Trans fatty acids are harmful fats formed when vegetable oil undergoes a hydrogenation process. As a result, the fat hardens and solidifies at room temperature. Hydrogenated fats, often known as “trans fats”, are commonly utilized to keep some foods fresh for an extended period of time.
  • In some establishments, trans fats are also employed in the kitchen. They have the potential to raise your blood LDL cholesterol levels. They can also reduce the amount of HDL (good) cholesterol in your body.
  • Trans fats are known to be hazardous to one’s health. Trans fats are being reduced in packaged foods and restaurants, according to experts. Foods prepared with hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils should be avoided (such as hard butter and margarine). They have a lot of trans-fatty acids in them.
  • It is critical to study food labels for nutritional information. This will allow you to determine what kind of fats are included in your diet, as well as how much of each type is there.

Healthy Fats

  • A healthy, well-balanced diet must include a small quantity of fat. Essential fatty acids, which the body cannot produce on its own, are found in fat.
  • Fats can also assist our bodies absorbing fat soluble vitamins such as Vitamins A, D, K, and E. Soluble means that  the vitamin is able to dissolve in the fat, providing better absorption of nutrients.
  • Any fat that isn’t utilized or converted into energy by your body’s cells gets transformed into body fat. In the same way, unused carbs and proteins are turned into body fat. Fats of all kinds are high in energy.
  • Fat also helps to keep you warm by filling your fat cells and insulating your body.

Fats Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Fats across 26 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching about Fats which are a nutrient that you obtain from your diet.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Fats (Nutrition) Fact File
  • True or False?
  • Healthy Fats
  • Know What You Eat
  • Good or Bad?
  • Balanced Meal
  • Cholesterol Lesson
  • Crossword
  • Let’s Be Informed
  • Types of Fats
  • Pledge to Myself

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Link will appear as Fats Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, April 1, 2022

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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