The Pros and Cons of Following a High Fat Diet

By Susan Dickson

The Pros and Cons of Following a High Fat Diet thegearhunt.com

In a world where most people are working hard to be thin and fit, there have been many fad diets that have come and gone. Today, there is everything from the Keto diet, to the low-carb diet and from the no-carb diet to the high-fat diet. The latest fad, of course, is the high-fat diet, which has its huge share of supporters. It’s important to note, however, that whatever diet you decide to go on, there are certain things that you must do in order to start that diet. It takes determination, dedication, and strong will to lose the weight you need to lose, and no fad diet is going to help if you don’t have those three things.

With the high-fat diet, there are a few things that you need to know as well. From the pros and cons to the dangers and from the reasons so many people swear by it to a few of the things you should know before starting one of the popular high-fat diets out there today.

The very first thing you should do is make sure to talk to your doctor before starting any type of diet at all, from high fat to low carb. Today, we will delve into the pros and cons of starting a high-fat diet. But, we will also discuss a few things you should know before starting any diet, the risks of a high-fat diet, and even the reasons many people are trying this diet today. So, grab a chair, your favorite snack, and let’s get started on our journey into the high-fat diet and everything you need to know before you get started.

Things You Must be Before Starting Any Type of Diet

We think that it’s important to talk about a few of the things you must do if you hope to succeed on any type of diet, whether it’s a high-fat diet or not. Below, you can find a few of the things you should do to get you started.

Have a Game Plan

The very first thing you should do when starting on a high-fat diet is to have a game plan. There is nothing like going into a diet willy-nilly to ensure that your efforts fail. The best course of action is to plan ahead with a seven-day menu, and then have all of the ingredients you need to make those meals on hand. At the same time, get rid of the things you’re not allowed to have on your diet to ensure you aren’t tempted to fall off the wagon so to speak.

Prep Food Ahead of Time

Prep any snack foods you’re allowed to have ahead of time so that when you’re feeling peckish or you’re hungry, they are within easy reach. It’s much easier to grab the things you don’t need when you are hungry, in a hurry, and have nothing from your meal plan ready to eat when needed.

Snack Before the Party

One of the biggest downfalls for people on a diet is the food they serve at parties and other social events. You can combat this by snacking on yogurt, fruit, or whatever is allowed in your particular diet before the party begins.

These are a few of the things that you should do to prepare for being on a high-fat diet or any other diet for that matter. Now, that we have that out of the way, let’s move onto the reasons that many people today are following a high-fat diet and loving every minute of it.

Reasons to Start a High Fat Diet

Who would have ever dreamed that fats could be good for you? But, healthy fats indeed are. Below find some of the top reasons that you might want to start your high-fat diet right away.

Promotes a Healthy Gut

A high-fat diet is said to promote a healthy gut, something many people on a diet struggle with on a daily basis. Healthy fat is said to work with your gut to form a protective barrier that works to rid your system of bacteria and toxins. It also works to regulate your immune response, which means fewer tummy issues to deal with.

Helps to Boost Energy Levels

One of the biggest benefits to a high-fat diet is the way that it helps to boost your energy levels. More energy means that you will get out there and exercise the way you should, instead of being too tired and piling up on the couch to play video games instead.

You Need Fats to be Healthy

Believe it or not, you actually need fats to be healthy – the good fats, that is. There are good fats and there are bad fats. The trick is figuring out which is which, then add the good to your diet while eliminating the bad altogether. This is something that your doctor can easily help you with, so make an appointment with him before starting a high-fat diet just to be on the safe side. This diet is supposed to help you lose weight, not make you unhealthy instead.

The Pros and Cons of a High Fat Diet Revealed

As with any other diet out there, there are pros and cons to the high-fat diet as well. In this section, we will go into a few of the pros and cons to help you make an informed decision on if this is the right diet to meet your weight loss needs.

Pro: Helps with Weight Loss

One of the biggest advantages to the high-fat diet is that it does what it is intended to do, help people lose weight. This type of diet, in one form, is another, has been around for years. Though it may seem counterproductive to eat fatty foods when you’re trying to lose fat, it actually works quite well for many who are struggling with the very real risks of obesity. The main idea of this diet is to reduce the number of carbohydrates you eat, which causes your body to burn fat faster. If the diet is properly followed, it’s a great way to lose weight quickly for many people.

Con: The Possibility of Ketosis

One of the biggest cons to being on a high-fat diet is that it leads to ketosis. This leaves you grumpy, irritable. It can also lead to headaches as well.

Pro: It only Requires One Restriction

With most other diets, you have restrictions on what you can and can’t eat, so many in fact that it can become overwhelming. With a high-fat diet, the only restriction is staying away from carbs. If you stay away from carbs, you can eat anything else you want to eat, making this a win-win for most people who are trying to diet their way to fitness.

Con: Lacks Many Nutrients that Your Body Needs

Another big disadvantage to a high-fat diet is that it denies you many of the nutrients your body needs to be healthy, considering that some nutrients your body needs are linked to carbs. That is why it’s so important to take vitamins when you are on a high-fat diet.

Pros: Less Hunger Means Eating Less Food

After your body has gotten used to being on a high-fat diet, you’ll start feeling full for longer, which means you’ll eat less food. Another great thing about this is that it will help to curb those sugar cravings, which can lead to a failed diet and having to start all over again, which can be depressing and damaging to your self-esteem as well.

Con: Eating too Many Bad Fats

As previously stated, there are bad fats and good fats. The high-fat diet lets you eat good fats, but helps you to avoid the bad fats. It is highly possible to expose yourself to too many saturated fats, such as too much bacon or too much butter. It’s possible to increase inflammation with too much dairy as well, which isn’t good for people with arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. It is best to do your research to determine what are good fats and what are bad before you head down the path of a high-fat diet for sure.

It is recommended that if you’re going to start a high-fat diet that you start out small. You can do this by first increasing your healthy fat intake at breakfast and then moving into other meals of the day, as you get used to it. Remember, a high-fat diet isn’t for everyone and you don’t need to try to force something that isn’t working for you. It’s also best to visit your primary doctor to see if it is indeed beneficial for you to be on this diet, or if it will hurt you more than it will help you.

Top Foods to Eat When On a High Fat Diet

There are quite a few foods out there that you can eat when following a high-fat diet. Read on below for a few of them to be listed.

Avocadoes
Dark chocolate

Cheese
Chia seeds
Fatty fish

Coconuts
Extra virgin olive oil
Full fat yogurt

These are just a few of the things that are high in fat that are good for you. Of course, you know that you should avoid fast food and foods that are fried in vegetable oil. However, it seems that there are dangers and side effects of being on a high-fat diet. We will go into a few of those now.

Risks of High Fat Diets Revealed

In our attempts to lose weight, it’s easy to be taken in by the diet fads of the day and though the high-fat diet fad is said to be beneficial, there are some risks involved as well. With that being said, let’s examine some of those risks below.

Can Cause You to Gain Weight

One of the reported risks of the high-fat diet is that it does the exact opposite of what it is supposed to do and that helps you lose weight. Fat contains twice the calories than protein and carbs do, meaning that you could end up gaining weight, instead of losing it. It is said that though a high-fat diet might be more satisfying, a high protein diet will actually allow you to eat more food with better and even safer results.

Can Cause Constipation

Since being on a high-fat diet limits your intake of many fiber-containing foods, it can lead to problems with constipation. Without the fiber you need to help your digestive system function properly, it’s easy to become bloated and constipated, which certainly isn’t good for your weight loss goals.

Can Lead to Heart Disease

High-fat diets can lead to heart disease if you are eating the bad type of fat. Although there are healthy fats out there that our bodies need, the bad fats can build up around your heart giving you heart problems that could affect your health forever or even be fatal.

These are just a few of the risks associated with a high-fat diet. As with any other diet, there are going to be risks, pros, and cons associated with this one as well. The best thing you can do is do your research well and talk to your primary health care provider to ensure that this is indeed the right diet to suit your health and weight loss needs.