I came here, read all the nonsense that's posted here about fat, most of it originating from lex and his followers (for example the fact that 80% calories should come from fat which is ridiculous).
ForTheHunt, I don't think I ever stated that 80% of calories SHOULD come from fat. In fact, when asked, I usually recommend most people try 65% calories from fat to see how that suits them. What I did do is try an experiment which is recounted in my journal, where I changed my fat intake from 65% to 80%+ to see what would happen. The results are in my journal for all to read. The experiment and the results make no recommendation as to what others should do. It only recounts my personal experience.
Conclusion: The fat is not the problem. The amount of fat is the problem. Over eating is always a problem if your body is not in caloric need. I'd bet you'd get problems if you overate of fruit as well.
You’ll get no argument from me on this statement. I think I’ve pretty much said the same thing several times in my journal as well as other posts. ZC does not magically exempt you from the problems of overeating, and it has unique problems of its own as does every other dietary protocol.
As far as the 80% fat theory coming from the Inuits, there is another theory that attempts to cover all early paleo man. The idea is that we are relatively physically weak and therefore were scavengers first and foremost. With our ability to solve problems by the use of tools, much of our food came from consuming the less accessible parts of the animal like the brain and bone marrow, both of which are well protected by a thick bone covering. Both are also very high in fat – well over 80% of calories if taken alone. Evidence of shattered animal bones and skulls at the various digs seems to support this idea. Before early humans developed their social structure, it could very well be that they got much of their nutrition from the leftovers of another animal’s kill. After all, one or two humans is no match for most large animals, but we are crafty devils and may have let other more powerful animals make the kill, let them eat their fill, and then come in to steal the leftovers from the mop up crews like the dogs and birds.
The higher fat theory also allows us to get by with much less food intake and still meet energy needs. I eat one meal per day that averages about 650g – 700g ( about 1 ½ lbs), and if it is consistently high in fat (80% of calories or more) I have difficulty consuming even that small amount and I will also put on significant weight. The calorie content is close to 2500 which is far more than someone my age needs.
On the other hand, if I consume a meal of the same size that is 50% of calories from fat, I often get hungry again before the day is through, and I may need another 450g (l lb) of food to keep me sated. I think for most of us there is a happy medium somewhere between 50% and 90% calories from fat that will best meet our individual needs.
Bottom line is that I make no hard and fast recommendations on much of anything, including the quantity of fat anyone should consume. I just recount my experiences, the results I obtain, and how my results compare with the current popular beliefs. People are then free to consider or disregard my comments when making their own decisions.
Lex
