do you think low-fat diet = beneficial, why/why not?

HealthFreak1967

I usually try to keep my fat intake at 22% - 20% of total calories consumed. Typically 27 grams/1,200 calories.

Do you think there are really any benefits to doing this or am I wasting my time? Granted, almost all the fat I do consume is healthy- avocado, nuts, seeds, almond milk, tofu/soy, oatmeal, quinoa, salad dressings, etc. Mostly the only "bad" fats i consume are dark chocolate and the occasional oil in something like corn chips.

is limiting "good fats"/total fat in the diet healthy in your opinion? why/why not?
(and i'm talking about health, not necessarily weight loss, because i know weight loss is simply calories consumed vs. calories expended.)

wellbert

Fat isn't fattening, despite the dogma.
However fat is 9cal/gram so fatty foods tend to be higher in calories.


I'm most successful at 50-60% fat, but that's me

bcattoes

The CDC recommends that adults eat 20-35% of their calories from fat, so unless you have a medical need to eat more or less than the average person you are doing fine.

ShannonMpls

Absent specific medical conditions, I don't think science supports a benefit from a low fat diet.

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/fats-and-cholesterol/
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/fats-full-story/index.html

"It’s time to end the low-fat myth. That’s because the percentage of calories from fat that you eat, whether high or low, isn't really linked with disease. What really matters is the type of fat you eat."

About 40% of my calories come from fat. My diary is public; I eat loads of nuts, nut butters, avocado, olive oil, grass-fed meats, some cheese. I did some research when I realized I was eating so much fat and determined that it wasn't a concern for me. My cholesterol is optimal, as is my blood pressure, and as you can see from my ticker, it hasn't impacted weight loss. Fat is calorie-dense, but as long as it fits my calorie goal, I don't mind eating a lot of it.

I don't think there's any problem with a low-fat diet, but if you're finding it difficult or less enjoyable to maintain a lower amount of fat, there doesn't appear to be much concern with eating more (again, absent a medical condition or direction from a doctor to suggest otherwise).

Chief_Rocka

There is a certain amount of fat that's needed to maintain proper hormonal function, but I've never seen any credible evidence of a concrete number. I don't think there's any benefit to taking a minimalist approach to fat.

All of that aside, my biggest concern is how much more weight you're trying to lose, you look pretty small already.