ARE 'FATS' NEEDED FOR FAT LOSS?
Anyone with the goal of fat loss will be working towards being a caloric deficit. Simply put they would need to ensure they are burning more calories than they consume over a period of time to lose fat efficiently.
Often this can tend to lead people to believe that they have to cut out fats. The thinking behind this tends to generally be that each gram of fat equates to 9 calories vs protein/carbs where each gram only equates to 4 calories.
So, Yes - granted calories wise you can get more food in by restricting fats, but certain types of fats prove to be beneficial for the body and its performance. When we refer to fats these can be grouped by saturated fats and unsaturated fats.
Saturated fats in high quantities, can be known to increase cholesterol levels and are often found in foods such as meats with high-fat content and butter. Due to the negative long-term impact, it can have on our health these should be limited and replaced more frequently with unsaturated fats.
Incorporating unsaturated fats into your nutrition will still allow you to lose fat as long as you are in a caloric deficit, but also provide the following benefits:
Alongside the other 2 macronutrients (carbs & protein) it also serves as an energy source for the body.
It acts as an insulator and helps to keep the body warm.
Fat will also make you feel fuller for longer, which can with avoiding snacking unnecessarily.
Provide important nutrients to support the body's cells.
Remember as much as you may want to lose weight or any other goal, your long-term health should not be jeopardised by this. My personal vision is to support as many people to achieve their goals and more, built around sustainable lifestyle patterns.
So when you're looking to make any change to your nutrition, these questions may help to dictate whether that change will support the above.
Why am I making these changes?
Are these changes sustainable?
Are they necessary for my specific goal?
What is the long-term impact on my health?
