The Positive Aspects of Fat: How Fat Helps to Nourish the Body

The body needs several different types of nutrients in order to perform basic functions. The more efficiently the body is nourished by these nutrients, the healthier you are likely to feel. Nutrients include protein, carbohydrates, fat, minerals and vitamins and within those larger groups can be a found a wealth of more detailed compounds. Some of those compounds are more important to overall good health and bodily functions than others, but the most robust health can be achieved through a diet that ensures you get all the recommended daily intakes of each kind of nutrient.

One of the most misunderstood of the nutrients that serve to nourish your body is fat. The method by which fat nourishes the body is through acids that are needed for producing new cells and hormones. Another way that fat helps to nourish your body is by offering protection against trauma to your organs. The same process for utilizing fat extends to keeping you insulated against the cold during the winter. Fat doesn't just protect your interior organs, it also works to protect bones from being easily broken.

Fat can be separated into saturated and unsaturated varieties. The bad reputation that fat has gotten is due to saturated fats that raise the level of bad cholesterol while lowering the good cholesterol. This type of fat is found in meat, dairy products and man-made processed trans fat found in products like shortening, baked desserts, fried foods and many snacks. Foods to look for in order to get the most nutritional benefit from fat are those that have more unsaturated fat than saturated fat. Unsaturated fats found in nuts, grains and vegetables can reduce levels of bad cholesterol and lower triglyceride levels which can reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke.

Another way that the body uses fat for nourishment is through the way its works to get the most from certain vitamins. Vitamins A, D, E and K and carotenoids are carried throughout the body by the bloodstream. Fat is necessary for the process of breaking down the vitamins so that they dissolve and can be carried more efficiently through the blood. Fat, in other words, is absolutely necessary for making sure you get the most bang for your buck from these vitamins.

Fat supplies energy to the body as well. Fat is part of a three headed Hydra that includes protein and carbohydrates that allow you to use the energy found in a food's calories to produce the energy that keeps you alive as well as gives you the get up and go you need to face life in the face. The thing is, however, the body doesn't like to instantly head for all the concentrated energy found in the fat inside your body. Your body would rather waste all its supply of energy in carbohydrates before it dips into the fat supply. The body essentially stores extra emergency energy in the fat cells. This is the reason you why need to exercise for at least 30 minutes at a time in order to start losing weight. If you don't allow your body to get to the energy in the fat, you won't burn it and you won't notice any weight loss.