Am I Eating Enough Fats?

Do your joints ache?

Is your skin dry?

Do you always feel hungry?

Are you getting more often ill than usual?

Do you frequently feel fatigued?

Does your brain feel foggy?

Do you have dry eyes?

Do you have dry hair and/or hair loss?

Do you constantly feel cold?

Do you experience hormonal problems, including loss of menstrual cycle?

Do you experience issues concentrating and/or mental fatigue?

Do you have deficiencies in fat-soluble vitamins?

Based on your answers, it’s unlikely that you are not eating enough fats. This is positive news! Fat is a nutrient which is often misunderstood by many people. You should aim for 30 to 35 percent of your daily calories from fat. This means that most people should eat at least 60 grams of fat every day. The needs will rise from there as overall calorie needs increase. The amount of fat a person needs is based on body size and activity level. In your case, there seem to be no reasons to worry!

Based on your answers, you are displaying some signs of not eating enough fats. Science has proven that if you are going too low in fat, this will impact your body and brain. Fat is a macronutrient that is essential to our health. If we don’t get enough fats, our skin, hormones, hair, energy levels and metabolic functions may suffer. If you are active or larger than an average person, you may need to add more healthy fats to your diet such as avocados, almonds and albacore. If you need some help with a healthy and balanced diet, you may ask help from a registered dietitian or certified personal trainer.

Unfortunately, you are displaying the symptoms typically seen among individuals who are not eating enough fats. Science has proven that if you are going too low in fat, this will impact your body and brain. It’s important to take a look at what you are eating at each meal to understand if you are indeed eating too little fat. It may be necessary to reconsider your diet and follow a balanced one that includes healthy food as well as healthy amounts of it. We need to focus on healthy fats and minimize the intake of unhealthy fats. If you need some help with a balanced diet, you may ask help from a registered dietitian or certified personal trainer.