If you don’t consume enough fat, your skin and hair may feel drier than normal.
Fat has been scorned for ages due to the popularity of fat-free and low-fat diets. While eating too much saturated fat is not good for your heart, it doesn’t deserve the condemnation it receives.
Let’s get one thing straight: Fat is not your adversary. In reality, fat is your bosom buddy and you can’t live without it. Literally.
Fat is a critical macronutrient that serves many functions in the body, according to dietitian Amanda Holtzer, RD. That implies if you aren’t eating enough fats, your bodily systems could be affected and your health jeopardized.
What should you do if you’re not getting enough of this incredibly important macro? Search for the following indicators.
1. You’re Always Hungry
A persistent hunger pang is an indication that you’re failing in the fat department.
Fats have a crucial impact on how full and satisfied you feel, according to Holtzer.
This is why: Fats slow down gastric emptying, according to Holtzer. This means your stomach will take longer to empty itself into the intestines and break them down, she says. And because of this, you’ll feel fuller for longer.
If you’re avoiding fat, you’ll soon start to feel hungry again after a meal.
2. You’re Always Tired
Exhausted? Your diet may be deficient in fat.
This is due to the fact that fat provides energy (fuel) in the form of calories. Indeed, “One gram of fat has 9 calories,” Holtzer points out. That’s more than twice as many calories as a gram of carbohydrates or protein (4 calories each), she claims.
“If you reduce fat from your diet, it’s likely that you’ll lose a significant number of calories, which can lead to tiredness,” Holtzer adds.
3. Your Joints Ache
The reason your joints might be creaky and irritable may be a lack of healthy fats on your plate.
Aches and pains can be caused by inflammation in the body, according to Holtzer. She adds that certain types of fat — including polyunsaturated fats, monounsaturated fats, and omega-3 fatty acids — may aid in the reduction of inflammation and contribute to overall better joint health.
When you eliminate fat from your diet, your joints don’t receive the anti-inflammatory and lubricating benefits.