It’s time to bust this myth once and for all: Eating fat doesn’t make you gain weight. Yes, you heard that right. Dietary fat doesn’t make you gain weight! This outdated idea started in the 1960-70s, then became the craze of the 1990s when low-fat foods were worshiped. From low-fat ice cream and crackers to low-fat peanut butter, these foods shaped the way people ate and thought about food for years to come. While more people are embracing healthy fats in their diet, for some there’s still fear and confusion around this essential macronutrient.
🌿 WHY YOUR BODY NEEDS HEALTHY FATS
Fats are one of the essential macronutrients along with carbohydrates and protein. You need a certain amount of each of these macronutrients daily in order for your body to function optimally. Again, your body needs fat. Fat is your friend! It helps promote cell growth, hormone production, and protects your vital organs. Here are four more important benefits of dietary fat:
🌿 ENERGY
Dietary fat contains nine calories per gram, making it more calorie-dense than protein and carbs. However, it’s not a bad thing! Fat provides your body with energy without spiking insulin production.
🌿 METABOLISM
Contrary to the common belief that fat makes you fat, it’s actually the opposite! The truth is that eating healthy fat can help you burn fat by boosting your metabolism and helping break down stored fat.
🌿 SATIATION
Healthy fats also keep you feeling satisfied. Why? They take more time to digest than carbohydrates. This increases your satiety and keeps you feeling fuller for longer. Think about eating a bag of pretzels versus a handful of nuts. The pretzels will leave you hungry an hour later, while the nuts hold you over. In addition, fats also make food taste better.
🌿 VITAMIN ABSORPTION
Another main role of dietary fat is to help your body absorb fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. For instance, a big bowl of salad greens is full of vitamin K. However, in order to absorb the vitamin K, you need to include a healthy fat like avocado, nuts, seeds, or an oil-based salad dressing.
The bottom line is you don’t need to fear fat! Eating healthy fats don’t lead to weight gain.