We've already covered carbs and protein, now let's talk about fat.  I cringe even writing this word because it has so many negative connotations.  We've been brainwashed to believe that "fat" is a characteristic, a state of being that is so undesirable that we should avoid it at all costs.  So it's no wonder that the thought of eating, and therefore becoming, fat makes some people panic. 

It's important to understand the differences between body fat and dietary fat.  They are 2 totally different things, and IMHO shouldn't even be called the same thing. 

Body fat:

• Protects your vital organs.
• Regulates your body temperature.
• Produces hormones.
• Stores energy. 
• Makes up your nervous system.  Your brain is almost entirely made of fat. 

Dietary fat:

• Makes food taste good.  
• Enables the body to absorb fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. Without fat these vitamins pass through and are excreted, thus rendering them useless.
• Helps food digest more slowly and thus keeps blood sugar stable.
• Provides key fatty acids the body uses to maintain our cells. 
• Is essential – our body cannot synthesize certain types of fatty acids, thus they must be consumed via food.
• Doesn't cause heart disease like we've been led to believe.  In fact, some types of fat have been found to decrease inflammation and reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, dementia and other diseases. 

As you can see, fat functions in numerous useful ways.  We must remove fear from food.