We've been talking about diets and dieting. Dieting for weight loss has really only been a potential issue for the average person in the last few hundred years because prior to that, most people's problem was getting enough food, not getting too much. But by the mid 1800s obesity was becoming a problem for some people.

Last time, we started talking about the history of diets and dieting. I pointed out that although the word diet actually refers to those things that are customarily eaten, these days we usually mean an attempt to lose weight.

With this article, I'm starting a series of columns that look at the history of diets and dieting - the plans and the personalities behind the plans. We are all so used to the idea of diets, that it is hard to believe there was ever a time when the "D word" wasn't on everyone's lips from morning to night.

Fat Is One Kind Of Lipid, But There Are Others. Dr. Beth Gruber talks about the various lipids and how they really impact your health. Fats and oils are members of a category of substances known as lipids. Other lipids include the compounds known as waxes, phospholipids, and steroids. Additionally, I have some more things to say about cholesterol, since cholesterol is one of these other lipids. Article 24 of the Science of Low-Carb & Keto Diets series.

Dr. Beth Gruber discusses dietary fats, disease and blood lipids. Food choices can influence the health of entire populations, regardless of whether or not any conscious effort is made to reduce fats and cholesterol. Article 23 of the Science of Low-Carb & Keto Diets series.

Ketone production results from the breakdown of body fats. The excretion of the excess ketones in the urine is important because the presence of large amounts of ketone bodies in the blood threatens to upset the acid-alkaline balance of the blood, and thereby, the balance in the tissues. Article 22 of the Science of Low-Carb & Keto Diets series.

Although some initial fat digestion is done in the stomach, most digestion and virtually all nutrient absorption of fats takes place in the small intestines. The pancreatic enzyme, called pancreatic lipase or steapsin, is the major fat-digesting substance. Article 21 of the Science of Low-Carb & Keto Diets series.

Dr. Beth Gruber talks about the important role of dietary fats. Body fat provides the most important reservoir of stored energy as adipose tissue. Article 20 of the Science of Low-Carb & Keto Diets series.

Today we are starting our discussion of fats and oils as foods. In this article, we explore the definition of fats and oils, and we will talk about the characteristics of these substances. We talk about Fats Definition and the characteristics of these substances as Fats and Oils Definition. Article 19 of the Science of Low-Carb & Keto Diets series.

In the past several articles, we have been talking about how it is that fats and cholesterol became the enemies of the table. But after going through the entire story, we can see that the science of dietary fat is much more complicated than it has been presented by The Official Opinion. Article 18 of the Science of Low-Carb & Keto Diets series.

The incidence of heart disease has not declined, despite a decrease in fat intake. The most recent studies indicate that total dietary fat has no relation to heart disease risk, that monounsaturated fats (like olive oil) actually lower risk of cardiovascular disease, and that man-made trans-fatty acids (the type of fats in margarine) are the fats that are unhealthful. Article 17 of the Science of Low-Carb & Keto Diets series.

Health agencies began advising everyone to restrict fats consumption. Said to be based on sound science - which it wasn't. Despite a 6% or more drop in average fat intake over the past 30 years, there is no real evidence that health has improved. Article 16 of the Science of Low-Carb & Keto Diets series.