Why do grams of fat matter

The government has strict rules about the use of two of these phrases. By law:. Reduced-fat and light lite foods are a little trickier and you may need to do some supermarket math. Light lite and reduced-fat foods may still be high in fat. But if the regular version of a particular food was high in fat to begin with, a reduction may not lower the fat content enough to make it a smart snacking choice. If the original version of a brand of peanut butter contains 16 grams of fat and the reduced fat version contains 12 grams, that's still a lot of fat!

And don't expect the label to tell all. The percentage of fat in a food isn't always listed on the label. But you can calculate it — divide the number of calories from fat by the number of total calories and multiply by For example, if a calorie food has 60 calories from fat, you divide 60 by and then multiply by For young kids, especially, fat and cholesterol play important roles in brain development.

And for those under 2 years old, fat should not be restricted. Generally, kids should eat a varied diet with about one third of calories coming from fat.

Eating adequate amounts of fat is an important part of a healthy diet. But it's true that many kids today eat too much fat, which might lead to unwanted weight gain.

Kids who carry excess weight into adulthood have greater risk of heart disease, high blood pressure , and diabetes , among other things.

The most effective way to teach kids healthy eating habits is to set a good example yourself. Making sensible eating a habit, choosing foods wisely, and exercising regularly are the keys to a healthy lifestyle. Reviewed by: Jane M. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size.

What Are Fats? Why Are Some Fats Healthy? Besides supplying fuel for the body, fats: help the body absorb some vitamins vitamins A, D, E, and K are fat soluble, meaning they can only be absorbed if there's fat in a person's diet are the building blocks of hormones insulate all nervous system tissues in the body help people feel full, so they're less likely to overeat Fat is a great source of energy, but does have twice the amount of calories as carbohydrates or protein.

Others, called essential fatty acids, cannot be synthesized and must be consumed in the diet. They include linoleic acid and linolenic acid, which are present in certain vegetable oils.

Eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, which are fatty acids essential for brain development, can be synthesized from linolenic acid. However, they also are present in certain marine fish oils, which are a more efficient source.

Linoleic acid and arachidonic acid are omega-6 fatty acids. Linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid are omega-3 fatty acids. A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of atherosclerosis Atherosclerosis Atherosclerosis is a condition in which patchy deposits of fatty material atheromas or atherosclerotic plaques develop in the walls of medium-sized and large arteries, leading to reduced or The heart muscle needs a constant supply of oxygen-rich blood.

The coronary Lake trout and certain deep-sea fish contain large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. In the United States, people tend to consume enough omega-6 fatty acids, which occur in the oils used in many processed foods, but not enough omega-3 fatty acids.

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should choose fish that are low in mercury. See Mercury in Seafood Mercury in seafood Some risk factors are present before women become pregnant. These risk factors include Certain physical characteristics, such as age, and social characteristics of women Problems in a previous Saturated fats are more likely to increase cholesterol levels and increase the risk of atherosclerosis Atherosclerosis Atherosclerosis is a condition in which patchy deposits of fatty material atheromas or atherosclerotic plaques develop in the walls of medium-sized and large arteries, leading to reduced or Foods derived from animals commonly contain saturated fats, which tend to be solid at room temperature.

Fats derived from plants commonly contain monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fatty acids, which tend to be liquid at room temperature.

Palm and coconut oil are exceptions. They contain more saturated fats than other plant oils. Trans fats trans fatty acids are a different category of fat.

They are man-made, formed by adding hydrogen atoms hydrogenation to monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fatty acids. Fats may be partially or fully hydrogenated or saturated with hydrogen atoms.

In the United States, the main dietary source of trans fats is partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, present in many commercially prepared foods. Consuming trans fats may adversely affect cholesterol levels in the body and may contribute to the risk of atherosclerosis Atherosclerosis Atherosclerosis is a condition in which patchy deposits of fatty material atheromas or atherosclerotic plaques develop in the walls of medium-sized and large arteries, leading to reduced or Eliminating trans fats in the diets is recommended.

When possible, monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats, particularly omega-3 fats, should be substituted for saturated fats and trans fats.

People with high cholesterol levels Dyslipidemia Dyslipidemia is a high level of lipids cholesterol, triglycerides, or both or a low high-density lipoprotein HDL cholesterol level. Lifestyle, genetics, disorders such as low thyroid hormone Merck and Co. From developing new therapies that treat and prevent disease to helping people in need, we are committed to improving health and well-being around the world. The Manual was first published in as a service to the community.

Learn more about our commitment to Global Medical Knowledge. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Common Health Topics. Courtesy of. Glycemic index Glycemic load. Fatty acids Kinds of fat Fat in the diet. Overview of Nutrition. Test your knowledge. Thiamin, vitamin B1, is widely available in common foods.

This vitamin is essential for metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, as well as for normal nerve and heart function. Which of the following is NOT a potential cause of thiamin deficiency? More Content. Click here for the Professional Version. Carbohydrates into sugars. Depending on the size of the molecule, carbohydrates may be simple or complex.

There are different kinds of fat:. Authorities generally recommend that. Was This Page Helpful? What's an easy way to track how much I'm getting? Answer From Katherine Zeratsky, R.

With Katherine Zeratsky, R. Thank you for Subscribing Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information. Please try again. Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Show references Duyff RL. Fat facts. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; Changes to the Nutrition Facts label.

Food and Drug Administration. Accessed Feb. Department of Health and Human Services and U. Department of Agriculture. Saturated fat. American Heart Association. FoodData Central. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. See also MIND diet may cut Alzheimer's risk 3 diet changes women over 50 should make right now 3 key changes in the new Nutrition Facts label Healthy-eating habits Reduce sugar in your diet Acai berries Added sugar Alcohol use Alkaline water Are energy drinks bull?

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