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Dietary Fat

Meaning

Dietary fat encompasses a diverse group of macronutrients, specifically lipids, which are consumed through food and are absolutely essential for numerous critical physiological functions, including long-term energy storage and the structural integrity of all cell membranes. These fats are broadly classified by their chemical structure into saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated types, with each class having distinct metabolic and inflammatory effects. Crucially, dietary fats provide the necessary cholesterol precursor molecule required for the synthesis of all steroid hormones, such as testosterone, estrogen, and cortisol.