Get your Fat Facts Right!

Fats and oils have gained a sense of popularity for the wrong reasons, due to its ability to make you put on weight. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) also says that 20-30% of calories for the day should come from fat. So, if fats are a part of the recommendation, don't you think they should have important functions other than making you fat?

Let's read some benefits of fats:

•Brain development: Fat not only provides the structural components of cell membranes in the brain, but also helps in the formation of the fatty insulating sheath that surrounds each nerve fiber, enabling it to carry messages faster. Many pregnant women are asked to consume oil in certain quantities in order to help in brain development of the child.

•Vitamin absorption: Fat soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K require fats to be absorbed into the intestines to provide vitamins to the body.

•Healthier skin: The right amount of fat intake decreases the chances of skin deficiencies like dry and flaky skin. . It gives the skin a shining and rounded appeal. The layer of fat below the first layer of the skin provides insulation to help regulate body temperature.

•Healthy cells: Fats act as a vital part of all the cell membranes. Fat surrounds each cell of the body. Without a healthy amount of this fat, cell membranes will not be able to function the right way.

•Taste: Besides being a nutritious energy source, fat adds to the appealing taste, texture and appearance of food. Fats carry flavor.

•Cushion for organs: Many of the vital organs, especially the kidneys, heart, and intestines are cushioned by fat that helps protect them from injury and hold them in place.

•Hormone manufacture: Fat helps in the formation and secretion of hormones like prostaglandins and hormone-like substances that regulate many of the body's functions. Fats also regulate the production of sex hormones. But, if fat is present in quantities more than the RDA, it may hinder secretion of sex hormones. One should be in their ideal body weight and consume only the right amount of oil and match their ideal body weight (IBW).

So, now you do know that fats aren't that bad after all!