Question about nutrition from fat

#1

Been low carb for a year but way more protein and less fat than almost all ketonians (?) recommend. I don’t get the need for so much fat and am looking for explanations. Fat has loads of calories and may be flavorful but protein is loaded with vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Fat from beef is like 50/50 saturated and monounsaturated fat— fatty acids are fine but I was under the impression we could get our nutritional need for them from a relatively small amount of fat.

I also hear about eating fat to satiety. Protein is far better for that – for me at least.

That said, I am willing to learn. that’s why I am here.

(Michael - When reality fails to meet expectations, the problem is not reality.) #2

In addition to providing essential fatty acids, fat is the fuel replacement for carbs. Protein is building materials. Depending on multiple factors including overall size/weight, amount of lean mass and daily activities the need for fats and protein varies considerably and individually. As long as you don’t eat protein exclusively, and it doesn’t sound like you are doing so, you can eat pretty much any proportions of fat and protein you like and works for you. Your metabolism will use protein for fuel if you don’t give it sufficient fat to do the job. But it’s a more complicated pathway and the last resort. Protein is generally more expensive than fat. By using it for fuel you’re just buying expensive calories. The max limit for protein is when you upset your nitrogen balance. If you start to notice your breath and/or body smells like ammonia you’re getting close to too much.

#3

You are right, we don’t need lots of fat for nutrients.
But we need energy, it wildly varies how much, of course. And we can’t get much from carbs on keto…
I for one wouldn’t want to eat 3, 5 or much more g/kg protein just to meet my energy requirement, I probably couldn’t even do it with the bigger numbers. It would be undesirable for multiple reasons. Fat is my primary fuel. I use protein for other purposes, for things only protein can do. That’s my main reason to “focus” on fat when I have to focus on something… Not added fat as that does nothing to my satiation and I want to lose fat while getting nicely full and these always were pretty hard for me. But I still shouldn’t eat overly much protein, that would be an unnecessary burden and cost. Lucky that I prefer fatty protein anyway. So it works for me nicely.

Some people prefer more fat for other reasons, like health.

(Rebecca 🌸 Frankenfluffy) #4

Happy forumversary, @amwassil! Just spotted your be-candled steak emoji!

#6

There is no shortage of us with higher protein consumption (which is many cases isn’t actually “high”) and also not looking for excuses to fat-ify everything to excess. If what you’re doing is working for you then keep it up! Not eating the carbs is whats keeping you in ketosis, you’re good.