"calories from fat"

stv1520

When checking labels, I look at the "calories from fat" number. Awhile ago, I read an article about the number you should avoid with calories from fat. I can't remember what it was. Anyone know number or percentage to avoid?

pinuplove

Unless you have a medical reason to, there is not reason to avoid dietary fat. It's delicious. Stick to your calorie goal for weight loss and you should be fine.

ETA standard disclaimer - fat as part of an overall balanced, nutritious diet with a variety of foods - including protein, fruits and veggies, grains, and dairy - is not a bad thing. Someone will inevitably mention the Twinkie diet. I am not condoning nor promoting such nonsense. Simply stating that fat is nothing to be afraid of.

rsclause

There are good fats and bad fats. I try to limit the bad fats and increase the good fats like avocados and tree nuts.

TeaBea

Avoid trans fats like the plague. Avoid saturated fats if your doctor has told you to (cholesterol). High fat meals can aggravate reflux/heartburn issues.

Other than that low fat diets went out in the 1980's. Avocado and nuts for instance, are super high fat...but they are healthy fats.

Look at your macros - protein, fat & carbs. Does that food item fit? One item isn't going to ruin your whole day. Take your whole day into consideration.

stv1520

I get the whole "fat isn't terrible" idea. I was looking at a product at Costco the other day. It was chicken piccata, and had a high "calories from fat" number. Or at least I THOUGHT it was high. It also showed a number of saturated fat. I did not see any TRANS FAT though. I thought saturated fat was something to avoid as well?

pinuplove

stv1520 wrote: »

I get the whole "fat isn't terrible" idea. I was looking at a product at Costco the other day. It was chicken piccata, and had a high "calories from fat" number. Or at least I THOUGHT it was high. It also showed a number of saturated fat. I did not see any TRANS FAT though. I thought saturated fat was something to avoid as well?

Do you have genetically high cholesterol or have you been advised by your doctor to avoid saturated fats? Trans fats have been removed from most foods. The main place you still need to watch out for them is in pre-packaged baked goods.

macchiatto

FWIW, my diet is 60% fat and my primary care dr, cardiologist, gynecologist (for PCOS) and MS specialist are all supportive of that. Like pp said, the low fat fad has lost steam. How much fat you aim for really depends on your individual health conditions, goals and preferences. I don't really eat trans fats but obviously plenty of fats otherwise.

cmriverside

When I was losing weight I had my fats set to 45% of my daily calories.

Other than personal preference, if you don't have medical issues fat isn't a gad guy. That prepared chicken meal is one reason I cook my own meals, though. I try to stay away from canola, corn and palm oil - but other oils are fair game in my world. It seems to me that prepared foods use mostly those oils I'm trying to avoid, so I feel better making my own Chicken Piccatta. I use butter.

stv1520

pinuplove wrote: »

stv1520 wrote: »

I get the whole "fat isn't terrible" idea. I was looking at a product at Costco the other day. It was chicken piccata, and had a high "calories from fat" number. Or at least I THOUGHT it was high. It also showed a number of saturated fat. I did not see any TRANS FAT though. I thought saturated fat was something to avoid as well?

Do you have genetically high cholesterol or have you been advised by your doctor to avoid saturated fats? Trans fats have been removed from most foods. The main place you still need to watch out for them is in pre-packaged baked goods.

I have had a higher cholesterol number on my last blood test, but at that time my doctor decided not to pursue medication for it. Said I needed to get a healthier lifestyle, which I am currently doing!

TeaBea

stv1520 wrote: »

I get the whole "fat isn't terrible" idea. I was looking at a product at Costco the other day. It was chicken piccata, and had a high "calories from fat" number. Or at least I THOUGHT it was high. It also showed a number of saturated fat. I did not see any TRANS FAT though. I thought saturated fat was something to avoid as well?

Back in the day all fat was treated equally. Anyone with a heart issue ate as close to zero fat as possible. Then scientists started figuring things out. Saturated fats were "bad" for everyone long before trans fats were on anyone's radar. Now we find out that trans fats are horrible, but saturated fats aren't horrible for everyone. You doctor can do tests, also your family history will point to whether or not saturated fats are bad for you.

stv1520

While we are on fats, what about "polyunsaturated" and "monounsaturated" fats? Are they bad or ok?

TeaBea

stv1520 wrote: »

While we are on fats, what about "polyunsaturated" and "monounsaturated" fats? Are they bad or ok?

http://www.webmd.com/diet/obesity/features/skinny-fat-good-fats-bad-fats#1

daj150

I always look at it this way, mono is good, poly is best. Makes life simple. There is more to it, but why over complicate it.

stv1520

Awesome article. Thanks

inertiastrength

I don't know where that would leave butter, and I love butter lol

whatlunasaid

Personally I'm not concerned much about fat as long as it's coming from a whole food source like nuts. I avoid foods with added fat and sugar, and this has helped me a lot. The ingredients list is your friend.

lemurcat12

stv1520 wrote: »

When checking labels, I look at the "calories from fat" number. Awhile ago, I read an article about the number you should avoid with calories from fat. I can't remember what it was. Anyone know number or percentage to avoid?

I can't see why it would matter. About 100% of butter's calories are from fat, but that doesn't make it bad in all amounts. Same with olive oil. On the other hand, I'd run from a dried pasta that had a bunch of fat calories, since it shouldn't have any and that suggests there are weird additions I'm not intending to buy.

I'd say what fats you consume matter and it may be helpful for you to focus on percentage of total fats (or not) depending on other things, but the calories from fat of one specific food doesn't matter.

(I also personally find that eating a bit more fat/fewer carbs than the MFP recommendation is helpful for me.)

extra_medium

whatlunasaid wrote: »

Personally I'm not concerned much about fat as long as it's coming from a whole food source like nuts. I avoid foods with added fat and sugar, and this has helped me a lot. The ingredients list is your friend.

does that mean no baked goods? or what if you add avocado to a sammich?

whatlunasaid

extra_medium wrote: »

whatlunasaid wrote: »

Personally I'm not concerned much about fat as long as it's coming from a whole food source like nuts. I avoid foods with added fat and sugar, and this has helped me a lot. The ingredients list is your friend.

does that mean no baked goods? or what if you add avocado to a sammich?

Haha are you joking? Avocados are whole foods. I'm talking about concentrated forms of fat and sugar, that have been extracted from their whole food sources, making them unsatisfying and less rich in nutrients.

As for baked goods, no I don't cut them out entirely. There are plenty of recipes for baked goods that don't involve refined sugar and fat. I do have traditional desserts sometimes, and I do use oil/sugar sparingly in cooking.

My point is that in general, if a food has added refined fat and sugar, it is not strictly a health food. It is not going to be as nutrient rich or as filling as the whole foods it came from. So if your aim is great nutritional value, don't pick up the prepackaged, processed stuff with added sugar and fat.

lemurcat12

I don't care for oats with added sugar -- berries are sweet enough for me. But if someone enjoyed oats more with a bit of sugar too or a bit of butter, I don't think that would make them not a good, healthy breakfast.

And I definitely add fat to foods for taste. Butter and olive oil and coconut oil, in cooking. I control how much, but I don't think butter robs my skate of its protein or olive oil makes the brussels sprouts not nutrient dense.

I also have homemade pie and cookies pretty rarely these days, but I see no point in making them without sugar and butter (although I am open to trying lard in baking, I guess -- obviously, still fat).

DrifterBear

Calories from fat is just the number of calories that come from fat... Fat has 9 cal per g so that number should be about 9*the grams of fat in the food.