Fat gets a bad rap among nutrients. It often takes the blame for anything that looks like poor health. People with higher levels of body fat may be more likely to develop certain conditions, although it does tend to be more complicated than just their weight. So why do we still eat fat?
Well, to start with, it’s hard to avoid. Meat and dairy products play a prominent role in most diets, and they both tend to be high in fat. Processed foods are also high in the fat stakes. Fat tends to make food taste a lot nicer, which makes it much harder to resist.
It’s not just about flavor or ubiquity, though. Fat is an essential nutrient, so it’s something that the body needs. That’s in part because of the particularly high levels of energy it provides. It also insulates and protects some organs. We often think of carbohydrates as our main energy source, but fat allows us to store energy for long periods of time.
If you’re going to run a sprint race, you’re going to want some sugar or starchy meals before you start to make sure you have the energy to burn. But that energy only needs to last seconds. If you’re an endurance athlete, however, you need enough to survive hours or more with only limited opportunities to refuel. That’s when fat can be beneficial.
When we eat food that’s high in calories but then don’t use those calories, our body stores the energy as body fat. When we do use the calories, however, such as when we’re trying to run a marathon, the fat is quickly burned. That means that professional athletes often eat a lot but still remain fairly skinny. That’s because all their fat is being used.
It’s important to remember that fat is a long-term source of energy. The way the body processes it is pretty complicated and can take a lot of time. You can’t eat something high in fat immediately before a race and expect it to work. You need to plan ahead carefully.
Many people have turned to high-fat, low-carb diets like the ketogenic diet in the belief that it will make them healthier. What is certain is that fat has an important role to play when it comes to energy, even if it’s not always welcome.
