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Fat Grams Per Day for Bodybuilders
Bodybuilders know protein is a critical nutrient required for building muscle, but some may not realize that fat is also an important part of a bodybuilder’s diet. Fat plays a role in the human body’s ability to absorb vitamins, release hormones associated with building muscle and energy synthesis. The key is consuming the right amount and type of dietary fat.
Types
There both “healthy” and “unhealthy” fats, and obviously healthier fats are the better choice for bodybuilders and the average person alike. The Mayo Clinic lists harmful fats as saturated and trans fats -- both of which can increase LDL cholesterol, which is the “bad” cholesterol that can lead to heart disease. Two of the more beneficial types of fats for bodybuilders are monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.
- There both “healthy” and “unhealthy” fats, and obviously healthier fats are the better choice for bodybuilders and the average person alike.
- The Mayo Clinic lists harmful fats as saturated and trans fats -- both of which can increase LDL cholesterol, which is the “bad” cholesterol that can lead to heart disease.
Effects
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Consumption of fat in a bodybuilder’s diet leads to several beneficial outcomes. Bodybuilding.com says that fat provides an improved anabolic effect and nitrogen retention in the muscles for increased muscle gains. Consuming the right amount of healthy fats can also provide an efficient energy source for the body during intense workout sessions. Omega-3 fatty acids – a type of polyunsaturated fat – can help improve blood flow and circulation, according to Clayton South, an ISSA-certified personal trainer 2.
- Consumption of fat in a bodybuilder’s diet leads to several beneficial outcomes.
- Omega-3 fatty acids – a type of polyunsaturated fat – can help improve blood flow and circulation, according to Clayton South, an ISSA-certified personal trainer 2.
Amount
The Mayo Clinic suggests that most Americans consume 20 to 35 percent of their daily calories from healthy fats. This estimate is consistent with the recommendation for bodybuilders at Bodybuilding.com of 30 percent of total daily caloric intake. For instance, a bodybuilder who consumes 3,000 calories per day would aim for 900 calories from fat. Since there’s 9 calories per gram of fat, that equates to 100 g of healthy fats per day.
- The Mayo Clinic suggests that most Americans consume 20 to 35 percent of their daily calories from healthy fats.
Dietary Sources
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Dietary sources of monounsaturated fats include olive oil, avocados, nuts, seeds and chicken. You can find polyunsaturated fat in most vegetable oils, nuts, seeds and cold-water fish. As a reference, 1 oz. of almonds contains 9 g of monounsaturated fat and 3 g of polyunsaturated fat. Foods containing unhealthy saturated fats that bodybuilders would want to limit – but not completely eliminate -- include pizza, sausage, hot dogs, butter and cheese.
- Dietary sources of monounsaturated fats include olive oil, avocados, nuts, seeds and chicken.
Related Articles
References
- Mayo Clinic; Dietary Fats: Know Which Types to Choose; February 2011
- Bodybuilding.com; Clayton South’s Health Facts: Omega-3 Fatty Acids; Clayton South
- Jenkins DJ, Chiavaroli L, Wong JM, et al. Adding monounsaturated fatty acids to a dietary portfolio of cholesterol-lowering foods in hypercholesterolemia. CMAJ. 2010;182(18):1961-1967. doi:10.1503/cmaj.092128
- Siri-Tarino PW, Sun Q, Hu FB, Krauss RM. Saturated fatty acids and risk of coronary heart disease: modulation by replacement nutrients. Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2010;12(6):384-390. doi:10.1007/s11883-010-0131-6
- MedlinePlus. Facts about polyunsaturated fats. Updated April 23, 2018.
- Raatz SK, Johnson LK, Rosenberger TA, Picklo MJ. Twice weekly intake of farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) positively influences lipoprotein concentration and particle size in overweight men and women. Nutr Res. 2016;36(9):899-906. doi:10.1016/j.nutres.2016.06.011
- American Heart Association. Saturated Fat.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Nutrition facts label: total fat.
- American Heart Association. The Skinny of Fats. Updated April 30, 2017.
- The National Institutes of Health: The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (PDF). Published July 2004.
- Whitney EN and SR Rolfes. Understanding Nutrition, 14ed. Wadsworth Publishing 2015.
Writer Bio
Joseph Eitel has written for a variety of respected online publications since 2006 including the Developer Shed Network and Huddle.net. He has dedicated his life to researching and writing about diet, nutrition and exercise. Eitel's health blog, PromoteHealth.info, has become an authority in the healthy-living niche. He graduated with honors from Kellogg Community College in 2010 with an Associate of Applied Science.