DEFICIENCIES AND EXCESSES OF FATS

Ellen D. Dadulla

Effects of Fat Deficiency on Humans

SKIN PROBLEMS

• When essential fatty acids are missing from our diet it can cause skin problems.

• An essential fatty acid deficiency increases the loss of water from your skin, which results in dry, scaly rash.

• This type of deficiency can also make it harder for your wounds to heal.

• Not having enough DHA may result in learning deficits and increase the risk for certain types of dementia.

COGNITIVE PROBLEMS

• Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are essential for brain.

VISION PROBLEMS

• EPA and DHA are also important components of the retina.

• DHA helps form the pigment rhodopsin, which you need for your brain to turn the light hitting your retina into the images you see.

Effects of Excess Fat in Humans

OBESITY

• Taking in more calories than you can expend in an average day makes you gain weight, placing strain on your cardiovascular, respiratory and other body systems.

CONSTIPATION

• Diets that are high in fat can affect your digestive organs.

• If a diet is high in saturated fat to the detriment of your fiber intake, you may become constipated frequently.

ATHEROSCLEROSIS

• Consuming a lot of saturated fat affects your blood cholesterol and arterial health.

• When blood cholesterol rises, arterial bleeding and damage can occur that encourages the build-up of plaque on artery walls.

CANCER

• An excess of fat and shortage fiber in your diet can cause cancerous cellular growth.

• Overweight conditions resulting from too much fat consumption also increase the risk of developing cancer of the colon, gall bladder, kidney and other reproductive organs.

Have a well balance diet!