Do Fats Make You Fat?

The third macronutrient is Fat. If you look on a food label you will see Fat near the top. Underneath the total fat, you will see the types of fat the food contains. Those types are Saturated, Monounsaturated, Polyunsaturated, and Trans Fats.

Fat is digested and used in your body. The excess Fat you consume does become stored as fat tissue. There, it can be used for energy later. When you first consume fat it is used for different processes in the body. Some is used for energy, some is used for hormone function, and the rest is used for other cellular processes.

Just like protein and carbohydrates, Fat has a unique and essential role in the body. Eating the correct amount that you need will not make you fat. Just like with carbohydrates, the problem becomes when you overeat it. When you do, the excess is stored in your body. There, it becomes body fat.

Is Fat-Free Better?

Fat-free has been a common diet trend over the years. A lot of manufacturers have created fat-free versions of popular foods. But is fat-free better? In short, no, it isn’t. You need fats. If you’re trying to lose weight, you may eat less of them but you still need them.

So, if Fat-free isn’t better, what should you do?

First, you want to consume more nutritious fats. Monounsaturated and Polyunsaturated fats are the types you want to eat most often. Where can those be found?

In Foods like:

Nuts

Fish

Egg Yolks

Olives and Olive Oil

Avocados and Avocado oil

Coconut

Certain Aged Cheeses

Natural Nut Butters

Here are a few other types of fats that would fall under the next-best category:

Most Cheeses (excluding american and cheese spreads)

Sesame Oil and Peanut Oil

Milk and Cream

Coconut Oil

Sunflower Oil

Regular Peanut Butter

Flavored Nut Butters

Trail Mix

Other oils like vegetable and canola are on the list to eat less often. Meats high in fat like sausage, bacon, and beef with a high fat percentage are also on the list to eat less often.

A lot of cakes and desserts are high in fat, and they often contain the fats you want to limit.

But, that doesn’t mean you need to avoid those foods entirely. You just need to limit them based on your goals. If you’re trying to lose weight, maybe you have something like that once or twice a week. If weight loss isn’t your goal, you would be okay to have them a few times a week.

My philosophy has always been enjoy the foods you want in moderation, just find a way to make them fit your goals.

How much fat do you need?

A good rule of thumb for a balanced diet is to consume around 25-30% of your calories from fat. It is also a good idea to have fat with every meal. Having all 3 macronutrients are each meal is better for your health, and it helps you feel fuller and stay full longer.

If you want to learn more about fat or how much you need, sign up for a free 15 minute call with me below:

Now that you know more about macronutrients, the next few weeks we are going to talk about how to apply that information.

We’ll talk about how to improve your mindset and motivation.

I’m glad to have you on this journey with me!

Have an awesome Friday, and crush your goals this weekend!