TIP ON DIETARY FAT
While most of us know tha consuming excessive amounts of fat will make us fat, we don't all understand exactly why this is true. To implement a successful weight management program, you need a good understanding of fat and why this nutrient actually makes us fat, if consumed in excess.
The amount of energy a particular food has depends on the quantity of fat, carbohydrates, and protein it contains. Food energy, both in its consumption and expenditure, is measured in terms of calories. A food that contains mostly fat will contain more than twice the calories than a food containing mostly carbohydrates and/or protein. Fat contains nine calories per gram; protein and carbohydrates yield only four calories per gram. Therefore, it is important that you move towards replacing foods high in fat with foods higher in protein and complex carbohydrates.
No more than 25 percent of your total calories should come from fat, fewer than 10 percent from saturated fat, the most damaging form. During the process of converting protein and carbohydrates to fat, your body uses them as energy and burns more than a quarter of their calories; it takes more energy (calories "burned") to convert carbohydrates and protein into body fat than it does to convert dietary fat into body fat.
Thus, more carbohydrates and protein calories are used and fewer are stored as fat. Dietary fat, on the other hand, goes straight into storage, with very few calories being used. Therefore, to help your metabolism work more efficiently, you should consume fat in moderation.
The amount of energy a particular food has depends on the quantity of fat, carbohydrates, and protein it contains. Food energy, both in its consumption and expenditure, is measured in terms of calories. A food that contains mostly fat will contain more than twice the calories than a food containing mostly carbohydrates and/or protein. Fat contains nine calories per gram; protein and carbohydrates yield only four calories per gram. Therefore, it is important that you move towards replacing foods high in fat with foods higher in protein and complex carbohydrates.
No more than 25 percent of your total calories should come from fat, fewer than 10 percent from saturated fat, the most damaging form. During the process of converting protein and carbohydrates to fat, your body uses them as energy and burns more than a quarter of their calories; it takes more energy (calories "burned") to convert carbohydrates and protein into body fat than it does to convert dietary fat into body fat.
Thus, more carbohydrates and protein calories are used and fewer are stored as fat. Dietary fat, on the other hand, goes straight into storage, with very few calories being used. Therefore, to help your metabolism work more efficiently, you should consume fat in moderation.
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