tuszczu

Tłuszcz is Polish for fat, a broad term covering fats as nutrients and fats as body tissue. The form tuszczu is the genitive singular of tłuszcz and appears in phrases such as zawartość tłuszczu (fat content) or ilość tłuszczu w diecie. In non-diacritic texts, the form may appear as tuszczu. The term is used in biology, nutrition, cuisine, and everyday language to denote both adipose tissue and dietary fat.

Biologically, tłuszcz refers to adipose tissue, which stores energy in the form of triglycerides inside adipocytes. White adipose tissue primarily serves as an energy reserve and a cushion, while brown adipose tissue can generate heat through thermogenesis. Fat tissue also plays roles in hormone production and regulation of metabolism.

As a macronutrient, fat provides about 9 kilocalories per gram, making it the most energy-dense nutrient. It supplies essential fatty acids that the body cannot synthesize, such as linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid. Fats are classified by saturation: saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats; trans fats are typically industrially produced and are generally advised to be minimized. Dietary fats come from various sources, including vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, fatty fish, dairy fats, and animal fats like lard or tallow.

Nutrition guidance emphasizes a balanced fat intake, reducing saturated and trans fats and favoring unsaturated fats, particularly polyunsaturated and omega-3 fats. Fat content is routinely reported on nutrition labels to help consumers manage energy intake and dietary quality. In summary, tuszczu (tłuszcz) covers both the biological fat tissue and the essential nutrient fat, with distinct implications for health, diet, and metabolism.