How do lipids relate to the food pyramid?
1 Answer
Lipids, also known as fats or oils, are located at the top or point of the pyramid (or more accurately, the triangle).
Explanation:
Most lipids, at least the ones we eat, are compounds called triglycerides. These compounds consist of a triple hydroxl alcohol (glycerol) that has combined with three long chain carboxylic acids (fatty acids) in a triple condensation reaction that also produces water as a byproduct.
These long fatty acid chains contain a large number of C-H bonds, allowing triglyceride molecules to store large amounts of chemical energy to be released in cellular respiration. However, foods containing many lipids are located in the smallest area of the food pyramid, the top, because they store long-term energy rather than short-term energy like carbohydrates. This means that it is unnecessary to consume large amounts of lipids; it can even be harmful and cause health problems like blood clotting and heart disease.
