Do You Feel Better On A High/moderate Fat Or Low Fat Diet?

[mle-ii]

Do you feel better on a high/moderate fat or low fat diet?

By low fat I'm thinking something lower than 15-10% fat by calories and most likely high in carbohydrates.

By high/moderate fat I'm thinking something around 20%+ fat by calories and most likely low in carbohydrates.

By feeling better I mean you feel like you have more energy, better mood, no brain fog, less pain, etc.

I'm also thinking long term, like say being low fat or high/moderate fat for greater than say 2 weeks.

[eKatherine]

By the way, 10-15% of calories as fat would be considered an extremely low fat diet, while 20% is still considered unsustainably low.

[mle-ii]

By the way, 10-15% of calories as fat would be considered an extremely low fat diet, while 20% is still considered unsustainably low.

Agreed, but in the mindset of "fat is bad" it's not.

I was trying to come up with some decent numbers that see about right for most folks, perhaps I'm off.

I just read something recently on gut health and so I was curious on how the real world of folks with damaged GIs would respond to this question. That and I'm trying ever so hard not to bias the poll.

Thanks,

Mike

[Ursa Major]

I feel absolutely rotten if I don't get enough saturated fat. I cook with lard, and others will often not want to eat my 'greasy' food (I can't tolerate butter or coconut oil, which I'd prefer). I need to be on a high protein, high fat, low carbohydrate diet, or I lose all energy.

[dlp252]

I feel much better on a higher fat diet, with lower carbs. I have a lot more energy overall and feel full longer with a higher fat diet.

[VydorScope]

Agree, Higher (good) fat, Higher Protien, lower carb = best diet in my experence.

[plantime]

Low fat diet=depression and constipation for me.

[eKatherine]

I go crazy on a low fat diet. The cravings eventually consume me and I start eating things that are way off the scale as far as fat content is cncerned. Now that I can't eat dairy anymore, I'd better keep the fat in my diet up, no cheese or chocolate mousse in my future.

[tarnalberry]

By low fat I'm thinking something lower than 15-10% fat by calories and most likely high in carbohydrates.

By high/moderate fat I'm thinking something around 20%+ fat by calories and most likely low in carbohydrates.

By feeling better I mean you feel like you have more energy, better mood, no brain fog, less pain, etc.

I'm also thinking long term, like say being low fat or high/moderate fat for greater than say 2 weeks.

Like the others, I also disagree with your definition, based on standard nutritional science (as much as there is a standard). Extrememly low fat is 10% of calories from fat. Low fat is less than 30%. High fat is over 70% calories from fat (yes, there are people who follow a high fat diet). moderate fat does not necessarily mean "low" carbohydrates. Additionally, there is reason to suggest that the body takes longer than 2 weeks to transition fully.

I tend towards hypoglycemic symptoms, so I CANNOT eat extremely low fat. I aim for about something like 25-30% fat, 20-30% protein, and 40-50% fat. Anything less than that is likely to leave me feeling low on energy and cranky, not to mention very 'brittle' when it comes to having controlled blood sugar. Also, on a very low fat diet, you're less likely to get enough of, or absorb enough of, the fat soluble vitamins that keep you healthy and keep your energy levels up. I really don't like 10% fat diets. My FIL is on one (Ornish) due to a heart attack, and it's working for him, and I support that it works for him, but generally don't like them for all the things they are missing. Veggies and fruit and grains and legumes are wonderful, but don't provide everything the human body and brain needs.

[Sarah8793]

Me too. I feel best on a diet higher in fats and proteins and lower in carbs.

[mle-ii]

Like the others, I also disagree with your definition, based on standard nutritional science (as much as there is a standard). Extrememly low fat is 10% of calories from fat. Low fat is less than 30%. High fat is over 70% calories from fat (yes, there are people who follow a high fat diet). moderate fat does not necessarily mean "low" carbohydrates. Additionally, there is reason to suggest that the body takes longer than 2 weeks to transition fully.

I tend towards hypoglycemic symptoms, so I CANNOT eat extremely low fat. I aim for about something like 25-30% fat, 20-30% protein, and 40-50% fat. Anything less than that is likely to leave me feeling low on energy and cranky, not to mention very 'brittle' when it comes to having controlled blood sugar. Also, on a very low fat diet, you're less likely to get enough of, or absorb enough of, the fat soluble vitamins that keep you healthy and keep your energy levels up. I really don't like 10% fat diets. My FIL is on one (Ornish) due to a heart attack, and it's working for him, and I support that it works for him, but generally don't like them for all the things they are missing. Veggies and fruit and grains and legumes are wonderful, but don't provide everything the human body and brain needs.

I agree that my numbers were off now. Guess I'll have to rethink how to do the poll. I just wanted to make sure that folks that think fat is bad and cut a lot out don't think that 20% is high fat. Clearly I'm not a good poll taker.

I find for myself that somewhere around 33% from each is about right. Give or take. Though I don't use macros to determine how many grams from each. Usually I shoot for around 1 g per lean lb body mass, at least 100g carbs + more depending on activitiy and the rest fat.

Where I was going with this came from some studies (ok done on rats) that pointed towards gut growth (and I mean intestine/GI growth not belly growth) in rats that had part of their GI dammaged or removed.

I wondered if eating higher fat made us feel better because it helped grow/heal the GI. Thus the body takes in more vitamins, minerals and calories.

Perhaps I just misread the article, but it does make me wonder why some folks feel and do better on a higher fat diet and others do better on a higher carb diet.

Thanks,

Mike

[VydorScope]

I aim for about something like 25-30% fat, 20-30% protein, and 40-50% fat.

Shouldnt you have some carbs to? :P

[mle-ii]

Shouldnt you have some carbs to? :P

LOL I didn't even notice that. Who needs the stinkin carbs?!!?!

[covsooze]

This is a difficult one for me. I need the fat for energy and to stave off depression, but fat also makes my stomach sore. I guess I need to be more careful about getting the 'right' fats....but even then, olive oil can irritate my stomach.

[jerseyangel]

I definately feel better with a moderate amount of fat. I stick to olive oil, olives, palm oil (as shortening) almonds and meats as my sources of fat.

[tarnalberry]

Shouldnt you have some carbs to? :P

lol I must have "fat" fingers. make that 25-30% fat, 20-30% protein, 40-55% carbs. (corrected my math as well. )

to the OP - and that's a loose estimate, unless I've been having blood sugar troubles, I'm not militant about it. if I've been having blood sugar difficulties, or in a situation where I expect I might (like the long hikes I'm doing) I'm somewhat militant about at *least* 25/25/50, at each meal/snack, or at least no more than 50% carbs.