- Fat tastes good. Let's not kid ourselves, food with fat tastes better. If we did a blind taste test on a bunch of people of regular vs fat-free ice cream, most people would choose the regular full-fat version. It tastes better, and I listed this one first because it matters the most. Food should be enjoyable.
- Fat promotes soft skin and shiny hair. This sounds a little vein, but it is nice to have soft skin instead of the dry, scaly and painful cracked skin! And I like running my fingers through my hair when it's well-nourished and not dry and straw-like. Fat in our food acts like an internal moisturizer for skin and hair in a way that external lotions and conditioners can't.
- Fat is satiating. It gives food that "stick with you" factor so that you can last a few hours without feeling the need to nibble again. If I only eat a banana for breakfast (just carbohydrate), chances are I'm hungry again in 30-60 minutes. But if I eat a banana with some peanut butter (fat + protein) on toast (additional carbohydrate) it's going to stick with me longer. Part of that is from the fat, which digests the most slowly of any of the nutrients, and thus lasts longer in terms of satiety.
- Fat helps you absorb other nutrients. In fact, the fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E, and K) will pass right through you if you don't have fat to help them enter your system. That salad with fat-free dressing and a ton of veggies isn't doing you much good nutritionally. Pour on the full-fat stuff and enjoy!
- Fat is good for your health. It is an essential nutrient that is part of the membrane of every cell in your body. Your brain is made primarily of fat. Certain types of fatty acids (omega 3 DHA and EPA) are antiinflammatory and may be helpful in preventing numerous diseases. The hype around the dangers of saturated fat has been waaaay over-exaggerated.
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