How much fat do you have in your diet?

Examples of good fats are olive oil and avocados (monounsaturated fat).

“The Mediterranean Diet is one heavily influenced by monounsaturated fats. People in Mediterranean countries consume more total fat than Northern European countries, but most of the fat is in the form of monounsaturated fatty acids from olive oil and omega-3 fatty acids from fish, vegetables, and certain meats like lamb, while consumption of saturated fat is minimal in comparison.

The diet in Crete is fairly high in total fat (40% of total calories, almost exclusively provided by olive oil) yet affords a remarkable protection from coronary heart disease (and probably colon cancer) , but unlikely breast cancer due to a very high oleic acid content.” Source.

“So what to avoid? The American Heart Association reports that saturated fats occur naturally in animal-based foods such as fatty beef, pork, poultry with skin, cream, butter and cheese, as well as certain plant-based foods, such as palm oil and coconut oil.” Source

@gailcalled Is that what your diet is?

I do try.The general rule of thumb is, “Eat less, eat more plants, enjoy complex carbs.”

Too much lately. I fell off the wagon and have been eating more meat than I think is healthy. I’m not sure how many grams it would total up to. I cook with some vegetable oil, but very little. I eat some nuts now and then and that would be more fat there. Also, add a little oil in salad dressing a few times a week.

I notice that I feel much better when I lose some weight and that happens when I eat less in general and eat fewer fats. If I eat the same amount of fats that I have been, but just make them all healthy fats, it’s still too much fat to be healthy for me.

When you eat fat, if you already have plenty of energy from carbs and protein, the fat goes almost entirely straight to fat. Meaning it gets stored as fat in your body. Fat is mostly the back up when you run low on carbs and protein. However, there are some properties in fats that are necessary for our bodies to function well.

@gailcalled Not directed just to you as a response, but in part of why I ask this question is because I stumbled upon some videos saying eating more fat is good for you. They refer to other animals in which they mostly eat fats and how your brain and body needs more of it. It only really makes me wonder more, I found video didn’t help fully answer questions I had.

Link – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2xhlIIueZY

@JLeslie It does seem they suggested that you “should” eat more fat and less carbs. From what I have taken in from information anyways. EDIT: Essentially fat becomes your main fuel source is what was protrayed to me.

I just thought it was interesting considering I am doing the opposite right now attempting to anyways. I try to go for high protein, low/no fat or healthy fats, and good carbs and less sugar.

@LDRSHIP : Do a little research and then use your common sense.

Here’s a sensible mini-article.

One way of thinking about food is to eliminate all animal protein and dairy, all refined sugar, and alcohol and all saturated fat. Eat what’s left. There’s a surprising amount.

By Rubens’ standard my fat intake is quite prosperous.

@Blondesjon; The canvas adds ten pounds.

@gailcalled I do plan to, I was hoping someone with knowledge in it could guide me the right way.

Although I disagree to an extent with the common sense notion. There is much information out there saying do a low carb diet, or do this or that. Then I hear contradicting things… I feel like it can be very confusing at times.

@LDRSHIP I completely disagree with that thought process. Tons of fat is not good in my opinion. Most Americans already eat too much fat, so increasing it makes zero sense to me. I do think some fats are better than others. I think animal protein and animal fat should be in extremely small amounts in the diet, if any. I do agree too many carbs is bad, and when eating carbs better if they are complex carbs or from fruits.

There have been studies looking at the Mediteranean diet. It was believed and touted for a long time that olive oil was part of the reason the diet was healthy. But, later studies have been interpreted to show that olive oil isn’t the real key, it is what the olive oil was being putting on. The mediteranean diet had many more vegetables, more fish than other types of meat, and the food was fresh and whole. Americans who kept a crappy diet, but just switched their oil intake to olive oil in leiu of other added fats have not shown to have significant increases in their overall health. I don’t know how well those studies were conducted, but it makes sense to me.

I’m not a doctor, it’s just my opinion based on my own blood tests and knowing what I eat and trying different diets. I have bad genes thiugh, I am not the average person.

The one thing in a healthy regiment that will never change, no matter what diet plan you choose to follow.
Eat less and move more. Plain, simple and easy.

@Juliasmile Not being disrespectful, talking about fats specifically here and imapct on it of the human body. And diet does matter.

I understand, I just meant whether you choose a low-fat, low-carb, high-protein, Mediterranean or any other diet, they will work better for anyone if you use moderation of portions and get moving.
Just something I heard once, agree with fully and wanted to share.

The guideline is 65 grams of fat per day. The good fats are usually plant based ones although some of those can be bad. You have to look at the labels. Most of my fats come from vegetable sources, dairy, and nuts. I also take a fish, flaxseed, and borage oil supplement. I probably do around 30 grams a day of fat.

I wanted to add that fats are not going to provide you with the vitamins and minerals we need. More veggies and fruits are really the way to go. Especially vegetables in all the colors of the rainbow. Add in some legumes and whole gran for more protein and carbs. I would go as far to say getting your fats in fruits, veggies, legumes and nuts, rather than cooking in it and spreading it on your bread is much better. Olives, avocado, walnuts, peanuts, etc. They have fat in their natural state.

I just got off a Vegan diet and I will never, ever do that shit again. It may work for some but after several months it left me weak and I think malnourished. I worked hard to make sure I had all of the proper nutrition but it still did not work. I felt awful. A week and a half on meat and I’m feeling better. I’m going for a more reasonable, balanced diet. Plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and small portions of lean free range organic meat. Little to no dairy and lower carbohydrates.

Here’s a useful question from several weeks ago;

Anyone know good websites for in-depth and accurate nutritional information?

@ARE_you_kidding_me Did you keep track of how much protein you were getting on the vegan diet?

I ate plenty of beans & rice, lentils, avocados & natural peanut butter. I did not specifically keep track but I made sure there were plenty of protein rich foods at every meal.

Fat isn’t my problem, sugar is. haha
I eat little junk foods, butter, oils, red meat, fried foods etc. but I do love chips and salsa, cheese and bakery treats.
I eat a lot of avocados.
Cheese is my biggest fat food. I don;t care, I will never give up my cheeses.

Considering my turds tend to float, probably a lot.

^^^ TMI Okay…tomorrows discipline…do not look before you flush, you can do it!

@ARE_you_kidding_me Interesting. I have to admit that meat is like an instant feeling of strength for me. I’m not sure if it is the protein, the iron, or what. When I am low on iron I feel weak too. The last time I went veganish (I still cheat a little) I felt ok, but I took tons of iron and was eating a little more protein than when I had done it before. I’m not recommedning you take tins of iron, I get my iron tested. I am low in iron even if I ate meat all day. I have to take supplements.

@JLeslie I’m pretty sure I had anemia. I went and had some bloodwork done earlier this week to confirm. I’ll know in a week or so.

I have tried vegan/vegetarianism three times in my life with mixed results. I felt best as a general vegetarian but still not as good as an omnivore. This last experience has confirmed my suspicion that it does not work for everyone. Despite good research that shows a vegetable based diet is very beneficial I think some of us simply are not genetically setup for that kind of diet. As much as I would like a vegan diet to work I think I have to come to terms with the possibility that it may actually cause me harm. That said there are huge health issues with animal fat. Wild animals don’t have 20% fat like our hamburgers do. I don’t think we need milk past infancy. I’m going for a balanced diet and reasonable daily exercise. I can’t see any way that this could possibly be bad.