#uncat 

**Fatty acids** are the building blocks of [[Fat|fats]], just like amino acids are the building blocks of [[Proteins|proteins]].

An essential fatty acid is the one your body needs but can't assemble.
Linoleic acid (линолевая кислота), found in vegetable oils, is essential. 
Two others: linolenic acid (линоленовая кислота) and arachidonic acid (арахидоновая) are in a somewhat ambiguous position: you can't make them from scratch, but you can if you have enough linolenic acid on hand.

## Types
![[Pasted image 20241219031545.png]]
![[Pasted image 20241219031612.png]]

## In food
![[Pasted image 20241219031909.png]]

![[Pasted image 20241219032016.png]]

Possible solution to the problem of hydrogenated fatty acids is plant **sterols** and **stanols**.
Plant sterols are natural compounds in the oils in grains, fruits, and vegetables. They are known to reduce blood [[Cholesterol|cholesterol]].
Stanols are compounds created by adding hydrogen atoms to sterols from wood pulp and other plant sources. They are known to reduce blood cholesterol.

Sterols and stanols "sop up" cholesterol in your intestines.

![[Pasted image 20241219032710.png]]