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njchica
02-13-2004, 12:02 PM
This leads me nicely on to my next series of points related to the problems that can be associated with a low fat diet. It can be assumed that a very low fat intake will leave you deficient in a variety of nutrients. A lack of essential fatty acids found in various oils is bound to raise a series of health issues. Dull flaky skin, problems controlling blood pressure, inflammation and blood clotting are all the result of a lack of essential fatty acids. A certain amount of fat is absolutely essential to utilise the various fat-soluble vitamins-A, D and E. These vitamins are essential in their own rights and to a certain extent can be attained from their precursors. However vitamin E represents much more of a problem. It is found in few foods, namely egg yolks, nuts and vegetable oils. A deficiency in this vitamin can leave our cells wide-open for free radical attack as it is reputed to have many anti-oxidant properties. It has also been argued that vitamin E has an ability to reduce muscle soreness after strenuous exercise. Finally low body fat can also harm your bones, in females low oestrogen levels caused by very low fat diets result in a loss of the minerals found in bones, therefore bone loss.
In conclusion, it is important to realise that there is more than meets the eye when it comes to fats. It is of equal importance to realise that all fats are not bad, in fact some such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated actually help lower cholesterol.

http://www.dot-fitness.com/articlesdbcontent.asp?art icleName=Fat+Facts.

kukuinut
02-13-2004, 12:22 PM
A short story of mine about needing fats in the diet. A looong time ago when I was body building, I cut out basically all fat. I kept a diary on how much fat I was taking in ---in grams. Yeah, I was obsessed! Not very healthy.
I think I was only allowing myself like under 10 grams of fat a day (I don't really remember).
It took a few months but I started hurting all over. My bones hurt. It hurt to get up, it hurt to walk.
I went to the Dr. and they found out how much fat I was taking in. I was told I had better start putting fat back into my diet because I was killing myself. I didn't take very long til I started feeling much better. What an eye opener!

Bonnie
02-13-2004, 03:34 PM
Kukuinut, I had an almost identical experience when I was competing eight years ago. I was obsessing about losing bodyfat so cut out all fat from my diet and dropped to about 95 Ibs. I also became bulimic. I had to quit competitive level fitness and it took me about six months to really sort out again.

JeNsTaN
03-02-2004, 08:39 PM
You look great in your picture gallery, I'm glad you're on the right track now I've been trying to gain weight. I weight 98lbs and I am 5'1. I eat like a pig though! I have just started drinking carnation powder with fat milk and 3 scoops of icecream. Any other tips you guys could give me? I really want to get to about 108. I guess I just have a really fast metabolism.

njchica
03-02-2004, 11:09 PM
Milk and cheese are great sources of dietary fat AND calcium and vitamin D.