Does your body need saturated fat?

[cccp]

Does your body need saturated fat? Or can you cut it out of your diet completely, and just supplement yourself with healthy fats?

 

[sublime35]

natural sat. fats are good your good cholestrol, I believe, and they help to support good endocrine function, ie: testosterone production. So no, don't try to cut them out completely.

 

[Mr_Sinister]

animal fats are good for you in moderate amounts, besides there is no way to cut saturated fat out, it's in virtually everything.

 

[jenscats5]

Here's a couple articles that may be helpful:

http://www.supplements2000.com/nutrition/essfats.html

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=532

http://www.ific.org/publications/brochures/fatsbroch.cfm

 

[jenscats5]

Here's another good article on fats:

http://www.benbest.com/health/essfat.html

 

[coldblue1955]

No ones bodyfat should be under 10% for too long. So the body needs some kind of fat to stay healthy, just not too much.

 

[psychedout]

No ones bodyfat should be under 10% for too long. So the body needs some kind of fat to stay healthy, just not too much.

I'm curious to hear the rationale and logic behind this arguement.

 

[coldblue1955]

I'm curious to hear the rationale and logic behind this arguement.

Example. All bodybuilders who compete has around 5% or less bodyfat so the judges can see all the muscular details in their physiques. That's cool and all but these guys shouldn't be like that the rest of the year.

 

[GodOfThunder]

Why?

 

[mm107]

Example. All bodybuilders who compete has around 5% or less bodyfat so the judges can see all the muscular details in their physiques. That's cool and all but these guys shouldn't be like that the rest of the year.

ya i would like some info supporting this......i know 5% is pushing it, but 10%? I do know the body has fat to protect the spine and brain and other certain functions thats why you still have 5% BF. Also the Fat in you actual Cells. But Ive never heard 10% isnt healthy. In fact i would think 9-12% is a great physice. any lower is simply amazing.

But hey, I do notice a lower sex drive when i cut my fats down. The more peanutbutter i eat the hornier i get lol.

 

[jenscats5]

ya i would like some info supporting this......i know 5% is pushing it, but 10%? I do know the body has fat to protect the spine and brain and other certain functions thats why you still have 5% BF. Also the Fat in you actual Cells. But Ive never heard 10% isnt healthy. In fact i would think 9-12% is a great physice. any lower is simply amazing.

But hey, I do notice a lower sex drive when i cut my fats down. The more peanutbutter i eat the hornier i get lol.

I've heard from male BBers I know that fat consumption has a direct affect on the libido in men......they all report exactly what you said.

 

[mm107]

lol i knew i was doing something right with the PB at night! Lets say im pitching a rock tent in the morning =]

So Who ever is neglecting thier fats thats something to seriously consider. Low Fats = Low Sex Drive lol

So MEN we are trying to look good, but whats the point if we cant finish the job! =]

 

[sublime35]

yeah there is correlation between not getting enough fats and low test., which will cause lowered sex drive. but unfortunately there isn't proof that a really high fat diet will boost test. any more than it's natual levels..which sucks.

 

[Beachbum1546]

Makes your joints feel nice

 

[necr0potenc3]

yes, fats have a direct link to the endocrine system. I once heard a porn actress saying "eat eggs in the morning if you want a good day of sex" =P
about the rock tent, lol

the 10% bf argument, thats bs
like someone said, 9-12% is just fine and great for a good physique. any lower than that is kinda hard to keep (depending on the genetics). maybe you were talking about the effort some people with bad %BF genetics do to keep a low bodyfat. but from the biological perspective, theres no trouble with a bodyfat under 10%

VERY low bodyfat isnt good, I'm talking about stuff under 3-5%. I think only skelletons are under 3% BF. some parts of your body such (and more importantly) the nervous system need fat to work

 

[Anthrax Invasion]

Bodyfat tests are skewed anyway, unless you're getting a DEXA.

 

[javaguru]

Does your body need saturated fat? Or can you cut it out of your diet completely, and just supplement yourself with healthy fats?

Generally no, the primary purpose of saturated fat is to be stored as energy. However, it does seem to be a "trigger" for higher test levels.

 

[Mammoth2500]

There’s never any good reason to include large amounts of saturated fats in your diet.
The only saturated fats you should take in is the small amount that comes in your chicken breasts and poultry and the small amounts you’ll get in the occasional cut of lean red meat and egg yolk or two. Many bodybuilders shun dairy products completely because they have a hard time digesting it or it makes them bloated and water retentive.

Saturated fats should be kept low, but cutting out all the saturated fats isn’t
necessary. A lean steak once in a while is A-ok and so is an egg yolk or two, especially if you’re taking in ample quantities of good fats because the good fats have protective effects that counteract the negative effects of saturated ones. Grass-fed beef has recently become more popular because it’s been discovered that its omega 3 fatty acid content is high and it has a better omega 3 to omega 6 ratio than grain-fed beef.