Does Fat Really Make You Fat?

Fat is a scary word. Society has this connotation associated with the word fat, that makes fat seem bad. It seems like every food is “Fat-Free” or “Low Fat”. What you have to understand is that the fat on your body (body fat) and the fat you consume (dietary fat) are not the same things.

The reason dietary fat is seen as something that “makes you fat” is because it contains 9 calories per gram, instead of the 4 calories per gram that are found in carbohydrates and proteins. So although fat is more calorie dense, and you should eat less of it than carbohydrates, it is still necessary for your body to continue it’s daily functions.

There are different kind of fats; saturated fat, monounsaturated fats, trans fat and polyunsaturated fats. The saturation in fat refers to the chemical bonds of fatty acid bonds. Saturated fat is found in meats, butter, cheese, some milks and yogurts, and coconuts and palm oils.

Monounsaturated fats are found in canola and olive oil, most nuts, and omega-9 fatty acids. Monounsaturated fats play an important role in keeping your heart healthy.

Polyunsaturated fats are omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. They are found in fish, walnuts, flax seeds and sunflower seeds, soybeans, and canola and sesame oils. The body needs omega-6 and omega-3, because they make linoleic and and alpha-linoleic acids. These substances are required to make eicosanoids, which are substances that affect your contractions of smooth muscles, inflammation, blood pressure, immunity, and more. Your body can not make these substances, so it is important to consume some of these things each day.

Just like any other food, too much fat will make you “fat”, just as too many carbs will make you gain weight, or too much protein. Fat is good and bad for you, depending on the types of fat you consume and how much you consume of it. Although fat has more calories per gram, it is still a necessary component of your daily diet to keep your body happy and healthy.

Sources:

• “What Is Fat?” Human Kinetics, us.humankinetics.com/blogs/excerpt/what-is-fat.