1. Fat Gives You Energy

Healthy fats provide your body with energy so that you can get through the day. In fact, you should be combining those healthy fats with carbs and protein to support your daily tasks and help your brain stay awake to get you through what needs to be done. The trick is to balance your fat intake with your calorie needs so that you get what you need without overdoing it.

2. Healthy Fats Support Heart Health

Healthy fats are called monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and omega 3 fatty acids. You can find these types of fats in olive oil, salmon, nuts, seeds and avocados. The great news is that these foods taste great, but the healthy fats also help control your cholesterol levels, which in turn supports a healthy heart. In fact, a diet rich in these fats can lower your risk of a heart attack.

3. Your Skin Needs Fat

If you cut your fat intake too much you may notice that your skin gets dry and dehydrated. That’s because the healthy fats in the foods listed above help promote healthy collagen production and infuses your skin with lots of hydration so it stays smooth, supple and healthy.

4. Some Healthy Fats Encourage Healthy Cognition

Omega 3 fatty acids play an important role in brain health. It promotes healthy development of a baby’s brain during gestation, but it also keeps your brain working as it should through adulthood. Some research studies indicate that people who eat the recommended amount of omega 3s each day have a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia conditions.

5. Fat Insulates Your Body

Eating a zero fat diet can lead to unhealthy weight loss. This can lead to feeling cold all the time. Constant coldness is a symptom of anorexia and occurs when a person severely restricts the amount of fat they take it. Your internal cells need some fat to keep them insulated, which in turn keeps your body temperature where it should be. If you find that you’re cold all the time, you may want to reassess your fat intake.

6. Fat Helps Your Body Absorb Nutrients

Several vitamins are fat-soluble, which means they need some fat to be absorbed by your body. If you don’t have enough fat for them to do so, you could become deficient. Because these nutrients are vital to good health, you want to be sure you are getting enough fat to help those vitamins absorb properly. Fat-soluble vitamins include vitamins K, A, D and E.

7. Your Hormones Need Fat

Hormones play a part in several body functions, including reproduction and your thyroid. Those hormones rely on fat to be produced properly so cutting your intake too much can interfere with certain body functions, including your weight and your normal menstruation cycle.

Did you know you need fat for so many important things? What healthy foods do you eat for your fat intake?