Is fat a protein?

Question

What makes something a carb, a proteins or a fat? What the difference between these classifications of foods, are there other groups (fiber etc.??)? These words are thrown around a lot I just want some scientific clarity.

Answer 1

No, fat is not a protein. It's a lipid.

It's got to do with chemical composition.
A carbohydrate may be simple or complex, and includes sugars and starches, like what you find in potatoes and grains. Carbs are made from carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen molecules.
A protein is just that - a protein. They are constructed from amino acids, and are important for the construction and regulation of cells and tissues.
Fats and oils are called lipids. That's just the name given to the family of compounds that includes oils, fats, and waxes.

Fiber is different again. It's a compound found only in plants that humans cannot digest (it helps the digestive system by binding to water, and increasing the water content in the food we digest and consequently our faeces, meaning that the digestive system works more efficiently.)

Then there are vitamins, minerals, and other groups. It's just a way of specifying the type of compounds in our food, and what they do for our bodies.

:-)

Answer 2

Well I'm no scientist, but I try to be healthy or at least know what I'm putting in my body. Carbs come from wheaty foods (bread, cheetoes, etc.) Just about everything has carbs, though. Not really that good for you. They turn directly into sugar when they are digested. Fat can be good or bad depending on which type. I don't know that much about the different types of fat, but I know saturated fat is very bad. I'm guessing trans fat is, too. You should get as much protein as you can stand. Penut butter, fish, cheese, chicken. Good luck with that.

Answer 3

the 3 main ways to get calories or energy for your body are proteins, carbohydrates and fats (lipids). Fiber is a type of carbohydrate. the body needs all 3 to maintain health. Yes that means your body needs some fat to be healthy. The only other category you didnt mention is alcohol but that is more of an 'other' or no necessary item

Answer 4

No a fat is a fat, although there are different kinds, saturated (bad) fat and good fat that you find in fruits like avacados.
Some foods can contain both fat and protein and eating too much protein can be fattening so I can see why this is confusing. Now I'm confused myself.

Answer 5

Fats, proteins and carbohydrates are distinctly different because of their molecular structure and the way the body absorbs and uses their cellular structure-- generally fat is stored or used as a lubricating source for hair nails and smooth muscle, generally proteins are repair sources for muscle and build/rebuild bodily structures, generally carbohydrates provide the body with energy but if not used efficiently will be stored as well. The chemistry is far more complex, but this is why your body requires a balance of all of these sources of nutrition.

Answer 6

i don't remember all the science stuff but a fats, carbs and proteins are all different. Proteins are made of amino acids and i forget what the other two are made of. but it takes 9 kcals to burn off a g of fat, it takes 4 kcal to burn off both carbs and protein. fiber is a carb.

Answer 7

No fat is fat, I think that we have seven criteria which we need daily, fat is one of them, protein and carbs, got this in biology and cannot remember although I know that milk has the lot of them. this is not much help and I will get back to you,

Answer 8

Not, a fat is made of lipids and proteins are made of amino acids. A carb is made of hydrogen, oxygen and carbon. That is the difference.

Answer 9

Carbs are like sugar, proteins are like vitamins and some fat is good but stay away from Saturated Fats

Answer 10

fat is fat. protein is meat or nuts or soy or whole grain. whole grain foods contain fiber. fiber isn't a nutrient. it's something that foods have in larger or smaller quantities.