Won't Eating Fat Make Me Fat?

Here’s the thing, fat has gotten a bad rap the last 10+ years. There’s all this talk that eating the macronutrient fat will make you fat. In reality fat is something our bodies want and need. Anything in excess is going to cause weight gain, not just fat.

What does fat do for us?

Fat has an almost endless list of jobs that it is in charge of completing and assisting in.

To List a Few:

Protects our organs
Supports cell growth
Insulation to regulate body temperature
Helps proteins do their jobs
Satiety (makes you feel satisfied)
Keeps us fuller for longer periods of time
Gives us energy

Healthy Fats

It is true that there are healthier fats that we should focus on incorporating into our diets. The good fats are monounsaturated and polyunsaturated.

**NERD ALERT**

I LOVE talking about how all of these different nutrients work!! These two fats are better for us because they are a bit easier for our bodies to break down and use. The unsaturated part of the word means that the carbons on the carbon chain of the fat is not saturated with hydrogen. Instead there is one or more double bonds that take away a few of those hydrogens. With the kink in the chain, due to the double bond, the different chains are not able to pack as closely together.

Summary:

Don’t be afraid to eat fat!! The full fat cheeses will actually satisfy and leave you with more energy for a longer period of time. Our bodies NEED fat to survive. Now don’t only eat fat but aim to get a sufficient amount of all the macronutrients, protein, fat, and carbohydrates.

Healthy Fat Ideas: