Find out how many grams of fat to eat per day, according to nutrition experts.
Thanks to the continued popularity of the ketogenic diet, fat has been thrust into the spotlight.
Now many folks seem to add avocados to seemingly everything and fill their cabinets with a variety of oils.
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But then there are people (maybe those who have watchedWhat the Health?)
who take the opposite approach and still advocate for low-fat, zero-oil diets.
First, What Are the Different Types of Fats?
Simply put: Not all fats are created equal.
(That’s why the term “healthy fats” exists in the first place.)
Here’s what experts suggest for determining your own personal ideal level of dietary fat.
If not, experts recommend picking a fat intake you’re free to stick with.
“Think about the healthy foods you love eating on a daily basis,” suggests Yawitz.
“If you’re a carb queen, you’d probably do well with a low-fat diet.
A good starting point would be about 25 percent of your daily calories from fat.
You’ll probably want to aim for 30 to 35 percent of calories from fat.”
Keep an eye on your numbers.
Have some fat with every meal.
What’s the Deal with High-Fat Diets?
High-fat diets are surging in popularity right now.
But are there any real benefits to eating a higher number of grams of fat per day?
High-fat, low-carb diets are also not a great idea if you’re super into fitness.
“Typically, I would not recommend a high-fat diet for an athlete.”
(FWIW, there are some endurance athletes who swear by a higher-fat diet.
Here’swhat you’re gonna wanna know about exercising on the keto diet.)
“This is probably because fat helps contribute to us feeling satiated after a meal.”
Still, satiety is subjective, so this isn’t a guarantee.
What About Low-Fat Diets?
“Dietary fat has many important functions in the body,” notes Yawitz.
“It helps insulate the body against cold and is important for healthy skin and hair.
For optimal health, you need at least 20 percent of your calories to come from fat.”
“For these women, 20 to 25 percent of calories from fat is a good starting point.
It’s also important to limit saturated fat to less than 7 percent of daily calories.”
“The best nutrition plan is the one that works foryouand incorporates the foods you love.”