Understanding Fats
Let’s talk about Fats. In my last post, I wanted to outline the role of protein in the body, and why it is important. Now let’s turn our attention to another of the macronutrients in Fat. The role and importance of dietary fat is something that has had a substantial rethink in recent years. Categorised under organic compounds called lipids, part of the negative connotations surrounding fat centre on energy density. At 9kcal per gram, fats contain over double the number of calories to protein and carbohydrates. It was therefore reasonable to assume that limiting fat consumption would make it easier to reduce caloric intake. However, fat consumption does not make us fat. Consuming excess calories in comparison to energy output does. And demonising fat ignores the essential role fats play in our physiology. Specifically, fats are required for the formation of cell membranes and the transportation of vitamins; they constitute the majority of the central nervous system and spinal cord...