Our bodies require nutrients in order to survive, function, and thrive.
We need large amounts of some - we call these macronutrients - and smaller amounts of others - we call these micronutrients.
Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals, and macronutrients include:
The food we eat contains a combination of any/all of the above. Each of these three macros provide energy, or calories, to your body, and each affects your body in different ways.
This post looks a little closer at the basics of Healthy Fats - what they are, why you need them, and where to find them.
What Are Healthy Fats?
Fat is a major source of energy that helps you absorb vitamins and minerals.
Keep in mind, a nutritious eating plan definitely doesn't mean cutting out all fat, just focusing on healthier varieties.
Healthier fats come mainly from vegetables, nuts, seeds, and fish.
Healthy fats include monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. (The kind you want to steer clear of are industrial-made trans fats, while saturated fats fall somewhere in the middle.)
There are two main types of polyunsaturated fats:
These are known as “essential fats,” meaning your body needs them to function normally but is unable to make them on its own. You MUST get these fats from the food you eat.
Why Do We Need Healthy Fats?
For a lot of reasons, actually!
How Much Fat Do We Need, Exactly?
This part can, admittedly, be confusing, because there isn’t really an “exactly.” Not only has popular opinion changed drastically through recent history, but your specific amount of daily intake will also depend a compilation of factors like your age, gender, activity level, physique goals, and overall health.
Essentially, you just want to make sure you are including sources of healthy fat into your meals every day in a variety of ways.
Fortunately, a rather large range of fat intake is actually considered healthy; in fact, the latest dietary guidelines from the Department of Health and Human Services doesn’t even give an upper limit on healthy fat consumption.
Sources of Healthy Fat
The Bottom Line
The bottom line is that healthy fat is an essential nutrient that we humans need for a lot of reasons.
Fortunately, there are many sources to make consistent consumption an easily reachable goal, and understanding how your body uses fats helps prioritize choosing the right kinds.
When you include enough healthy fat into your diet, your body, mind, and health will thank you, which means so will your soul.
Recipes to Try:
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