Before you undo the links, it's probably best to understand why they are there - there are very good reasons for using links rather than the actual data. It may of course be best for your purposes to do without them, but it's a good idea to know why you're doing it.

If your database is static it may well be OK, but if you are updating it then it is *much* easier to keep it consistent if you use the links.

I don't know how much you already know - if you're not familiar with the theory searching on "third normal form" will find you a lot of explanations of this.