Why you need fat in your diet?
Fats have always been associated with calories. Dietary fats play a vital role in your health and they should be included in your diet but within the recommended limit. Fats are high energy foods that provide 9 kcal of energy per gram of fat in contrast to carbohydrates or proteins that provide only 4 kcal of energy. Proteins are largely spared from being used by the body to supply energy, as long as fat is present. Besides supplying energy, fats serve as mode of transport for the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. Fats support vital organs of the body like the heart, kidneys and the intestine. Fat is present underneath the skin which acts as an insulator against cold. But above all, the food becomes more palatable with the use of fat.
Fats are linked with weight gain and obesity. The US dietary guidelines restricted the intake of fats in diet as not more than 30 % of the total calorie intake for both adults and children. The reason was to prevent them from becoming obese, possible heart and other diseases. But it was seen that children having a low fat and low cholesterol diet failed to grow properly and on the contrary they became more prone to heart diseases. Children need a high amount of fat in their diet throughout for their proper growth and development of muscles, bones and brain.
Diets rich in EFAs reduce the chance of heart disease. Animal fats help to provide vitamin D and A and omega fatty acids that are required for the assimilation of protein, development of immunity to fight against infections, development of brain and vision, also the development of sexual functions and fertility is influenced by fat.