Daily Fat Percentage

• In order to lose weight or maintain general health the diet must contain 10-30 percent of calories from fat. Diets containing higher fat percentages are not beneficial to weight loss goals or general health requirements, and in fact may be turned into excess stored fat in the body.
  
  

Too Much Fat

• Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Simon Doggett
  
  Most Americans consume 32 to 42 percent of their daily calories from fat, which has a direct effect on the obesity epidemic. Consuming more than 30 percent of your food from fat can make you more prone to overeating and to your metabolism slowing down.
  
  

Dangerous Fats

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  Saturated and trans fat increase cholesterol and can increase the risk of developing heart disease. Saturated fat should include less than 7 percent of daily calories while trans fat should be avoided completely.
  
  

Healthier Fats

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  Consuming higher amounts of polyunsaturated fat than the less desirable saturated fat is necessary to maintain health. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats help lower cholesterol and should make up the majority of the daily percentage of dietary fat.
  
  

Food Choices

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  The 10 to 30 percent of daily fat consumed should consist of healthier fats. These can be found in cold water fish, plant oils, nuts and seeds.