With all the low-fat diet trends that bombard you daily, it almost feels sinful to even say the phrase "high-fat diet." Fat is a nutrient that can be found naturally or is added to foods. It's important to have some fat in your diet to help with hormone production and vitamin absorption. But, too much fat in your diet can make your overweight and lead to various health problems. According to the Coconut Research Center, 60 percent of Americans are overweight, with one-third being obese.
Daily Allowance
The Food and Drug Administration recommends your daily intake of fat be limited to 65 grams daily, with only 20 grams coming from saturated fat and 2000 calories. A calorie is a way to measure units of energy your body uses, and each unit of fat equals 9 calories. With a high-fat diet, your body might not be able to utilize all of the calories provided from fat, causing it to build up in your body, which leads to weight gain.
Saturated Fat
During food production, hydrogen is sometimes added to fat. When a fat can't hold more hydrogen, it is considered saturated fat -- or bad fat. The reason for the addition of hydrogen so that the fat can be turned into a solidified form, like butter and lard. These types of fats are harder for the body to absorb and can cause weight gain and heart health issues, according to the American Heart Association.
Poly, Moly and Unsaturated Fats
Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated are other types of fat. "Monounsaturated" means it can hold one more unit of hydrogen, while polyunsaturated means the fat can hold many additional units of hydrogen
Unsaturated fat is the best type of fat to eat. With no hydrogen added, it's the easiest fat for the body to absorb. This type of fat is found naturally in foods such as fish, nuts and soy products.
Trans Fat
You may have seen food packages claiming the products inside contain zero trans fat, which is another hydrogenated fat, sometimes listed as "partially hydrated." Trans fat is another bad fat known to not only raise your bad cholesterol -- known as LDL -- but also to lower your good cholesterol, known as HDL. These are usually found in highly processed foods such as chips and snack crackers.
Healthy Choices
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, keeping a low-fat diet can help you maintain a healthy weight. Even though eating healthy can present challenges if you're not accustomed to it, simple changes in diet can help you keep slim and stay healthy. Choose fruits and veggies over sugary, processed food and eat whole grains along with lean meats, such as chicken. Avoid fried food -- loaded with saturated fat -- as much as possible.
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