I would think this is a easy question but I am having trouble finding the answer.......

How many fat grams a day should one intake?

I am sure it changes by sex, weight and activity levels but is there a way to figure this out?

Or should you go by a % of your total daily intake instead - if so what % of all your intake should be fat grams?

Much Appreciated :)

20-30% of your Daily intake. Of course the should be good fats and not bad ones.

20-30% of your Daily intake. Of course the should be good fats and not bad ones.

Could you please clarify that a bit? 20-30% of your daily intake of what? Calories? If so, those numbers don't add up. :laugh:

I would think this is a easy question but I am having trouble finding the answer.......

How many fat grams a day should one intake?

...... Beth,

The official answer is that we need 15 grams per day, for our body's metabolism to function optimally. Avoiding any trans fats, is very desireable, so they should not be considered includeable in that.

Few of us have that level of long-term willpower (as grease is tasty, and many of us eat for taste, not merely sustenance), so up to 10% of our daily calories as fats, is considered a healthy enough target (again, we should avoid 'trans' fats).

If we don't have any weight or cardiovascular problems (yet), we might take a more liberal view and figure up to 30% of our daily calorie intake can be as fats. But, imho, this level will lead to weight and cardiovascular problems.

rD

ps. We should avoid all 'trans' fats as best we can, because, while they help food store better on shelves without going rancid since 'trans' fats are far more stable and do not break down so readily, 'trans' fats also do not break down (a.k.a. digest) in our bodies easily, so they tend to hang around our arteries much longer than regular fats.

20-30% of your daily Calories Is what is recommended. Regardless of Weight Problems. The Amount of fat (as a percentage) you eat has no impact on weight Problems. If your eating 2000 calories a day and getting 600 from fat or 300 from fat will not make a difference weight wise. 10% can be very difficult to achieve. I wouldnt go Less then 10%

Nerelda if you use http://fitday.com it will show you a graph of the % of fat you are eating as well as the grams.

LadyWendy - Thanks. I use that regularly and do keep an eye on those things. :)

Pipermac - I simply misunderstood you. I thought you meant that the total grams of fat should be 20-30% of our calorie intake, rather than the calories we get from fat should be 20-30%. :)

Thank you everyone ! This is very appreciated :D

I do use fitday but still wanted a ball park number to aim for :)

I understand this much better now.