How much fat should I eat?
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Dr. Michael Roizen answered:The average American consumes 80 grams of fat a day, which is about 35 percent of his or her total calories. I recommend you limit your total fat intake to 25 percent of your total dietary consumption.
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The average American consumes 80 grams of fat a day, which is about 35 percent of his or her total calories. I recommend you limit your total fat intake to 25 percent of your total dietary consumption. More -
Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:Fat, along with proteins and carbohydrates, is an essential nutrient, vital to your overall good health. You need fat in your diet. The key is to eat healthy fats and consume them in moderation to maintain a healthy weight since fats provide more calories per gram than proteins or carbohydrates.
Make a habit of getting 30% of your daily calories from heart-healthy unsaturated fats such as olive oil, nuts, avocados, fish, flaxseed, etc. Avoid unhealthy trans fats found in processed foods such as cookies, chips, and margarine; limit your intake of saturated fats found in whole milk, butter, and red meat.Fat, along with proteins and carbohydrates, is an essential nutrient, vital to your overall good health. You need fat in your diet. The key is to eat healthy fats and consume them in moderation to maintain a healthy weight since fats provide... More -
Janis Jibrin answered:Anywhere from 20 to 35 percent of total calories from fat is considered healthy. For some people, opting for the lower end of the range helps keep calories in check because fat—even the healthy type—is high in calories. So overdo fat even a little can tip you into calorie overload. But for others, a Mediterranean-style higher fat approach is more tasty and satisfying. As long as portions are kept in check, it’s a terrific way to lose weight.
I find that 30 percent of calories from fat (and 45 to 50 percent from carbohydrates and 15 to 25 percent from protein) works well for most people. If you stick with lean meats (like skinless chicken and fish) and low fat carbohydrates (like whole grain bread versus a doughnut) then you have a number of fat servings to play with.
A fat serving is about 45 calories and 5 grams (g) of fat. That’s approximately one teaspoon of oil (of any kind); 1 1/2 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon of margarine (depending on whether it’s regular or light and look for those with no partially hydrogenated fat); about 1 tablespoon nuts; 1 1/2 teaspoons regular mayonnaise; 1 tablespoon light mayo; and 3 tablespoons cubed avocado. (Those are all examples of foods rich in healthy fats, which should constitute the bulk of your daily fat.)
The number of fat servings you take in daily depends on how many overall daily calories you need:
Daily calories Number of fat servings
1500 to 1700 5
Above 1700 to 1900 6
Above 1900 to 2500 7Anywhere from 20 to 35 percent of total calories from fat is considered healthy. For some people, opting for the lower end of the range helps keep calories in check because fat—even the healthy type—is high in calories. So overdo fat... More
