As promised, I created a post on fats on my Instagram account (@taitalksnutrition) as a lot of people asked me questions about it and wanted me to break it down. It’s bit of a long one (in my typical lecture style format ) but I hope you find it very informative and useful.
Fat is an important part of our diet as a certain amount is needed for our general health. Fats are involved in vital physiological processes in the body, and are indispensable for a number of important biological functions including growth and development.
Fats provide the body with energy as each gram contains 9 calories (kcal). This is more energy-dense than carbs & protein, with both containing 4 kcal.
Fats are also needed for the production of hormones, transport fat-soluble vitamins in the body like vitamin A, D, E and K & provide essential fatty acids as the body is unable to make it itself.
However, consuming too much fat in the diet or not having the right balance of different types of fat isn’t ideal.
A regular diet that is high in saturated fat can increase low-density lipoproteins (LDL) levels in the blood. LDL is sometimes called the “bad” cholesterol as high levels can cause a buildup of cholesterol in the arteries, which can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Therefore, knowing ways to reduce your total fat and saturated intake is vital to protect your health.
Tai Talks Nutrition 