Fats have been demonized for the longest time. 

Even today, thousands of individuals and sources demonize the poor nutrient and suggest that we should cut all fat from our diet.

But, the truth is, mounting evidence suggests that fats are integral for our health and wellbeing. Today, we’ll take a look at why that is and what it means for us.

What Are Dietary Fats?

Dietary fats are organic molecules made of carbon and hydrogen atoms. Depending on their structure, fats come in three categories – saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated.

Based on that, fats can have different effects within our body.

As far as the health effect of fats goes, researchers have come up with a general rule of thumb:

If a fat comes from unprocessed food (fatty fish, avocado, etc.), then its effects are mostly good. If the fat comes from processed goods (potato chips, cookies, etc.), then it’s best to limit them.

Now that we have a basic understanding of fats, let’s take a look at what they do for us. 

Why Fats Are Critical

Fats are vital to our health and wellbeing. Some of their functions include:

• They aid the production of hormones, enzymes, and cells;
• They maintain our brain health;
• They are vital for our cardiovascular system;
• They support our metabolism;
• They keep us full after meals and prevent us from overeating.

Some research even suggests that getting enough dietary fats is vital for our mental health, and it can help treat and prevent depression.

As a whole, fats are integral for our health, wellbeing, energy, and fitness results.

How to Get More Fats In Your Diet

Here are some of the healthiest fat sources you should add to your grocery list:

• Fatty fish, which is also vital because it provides us with the much needed omega-3 fatty acids;
• Whole eggs;
• Avocado;
• Olives and extra virgin olive oil;
• Coconut and coconut oils;
• Seeds and nuts;
• Full-fat yogurt;
• Cheese;
• Dark chocolate.