Fat in diet

[precious_roy]

What real purpose does it serve? For example, people advocate somethings like 40/40/20 or 40/30/30 diets, but I just do not eat that much fat (more around 12 - 13%). When bulking, is it critical to hit at least 20% fat in the macronutrient breakdown?

 

[jwbond]

Fat is good to have in your diet for a couple of reasons...

1) Excellent concentrated source of calories if you are trying to put on weight

2) EFAs are full of good choloestoral which helps to maintain a healthy heart

3) Natural Testosterone levels can be lowered if you do not eat the minimum amount.

 

[precious_roy]

Well, I do eat a lot of EFAs (from flax seed and the likes) and I can manage to get enough calories from carbs and protein. But what is the "minimum amount" you speak of for testerone levels? I assume there is no quantative value, as it would vary person to person, but I am curious why this is so?

 

[imported_dkm1987]

I wouldn't worry about the test level and fat intake, it doesn't correlate all that well to begin with. Without getting super technical test is made from Cholesterol (which is a lipid) anyway not fat per se.

To keep it simple, plan your diet around your Protein, Carbs then fill the remainder of needed calories with good fats. You'll be fine.

Fats have many many uses in the body. If you really want to know what, then I'm sure we can fill you in, but beware it would be a lengthy post to list them all.

 

[Aaron_F]

Quote[/b] (jwbond @ May 11 2005,10:16)]2) EFAs are full of good choloestoral which helps to maintain a healthy heart

I have heard some crazy things about EFAs and the likes over the years, but full of good cholesterol???