Do Our Bodies Need Fats During The Restoration Phase?

Eating disorder recovery is a long and taxing process. If you’re having trouble sticking to your recovery goals, a comprehensive eating disorder recovery diet can help anchor and sustain your commitment. In this article, we’ll investigate the potential benefits of including more fats in your eating disorder recovery diet.

However, before we get started, please note that the information in this article is designed for people who are recovering from an eating disorder. This is because our diet tips for someone who has fully recovered from anorexia nervosa will not apply to someone who is only just beginning to reintroduce calories.

So, What Are the Benefits of Eating More Fat?

Despite decades of studies showing the benefits of certain healthy fats, there are still a lot of misconceptions when it comes to eating fats alongside a diverse and healthy diet. If you’re wondering how eating fats could lead to superior health outcomes, check out the following list of health benefits:

• Fats are more satiating than protein and carbohydrates. This means high-fat meals will make you feel fuller for a longer period of time.
• Broadly speaking, healthy fats, such as monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats, can help correct hormonal imbalances, regulate mood, and improve cognitive functions.
• Healthy fat consumption can also lower LDL cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease.
• A diet high in healthy fats will also improve insulin sensitivity, regulating blood sugar spikes and lowering the risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Research indicates that monounsaturated fats could help reduce the risk of breast cancer and prostate cancer. Studies also suggest that monounsaturated fats can decrease inflammation, reducing the risk of chronic diseases and infections.

Should You Be Eating More Fat?

There are two key factors to consider when deciding if you need to incorporate more fat in your diet: what type of fats will you be eating more of, and how much fat are you already having?

Remember, if you’re planning to eat more foods high in harmful trans fats or saturated fats, this will probably lead to poorer health outcomes. In comparison, eating more foods high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, such as fish, olive oil, flaxseeds, avocados, and nuts, can greatly improve your health, especially in conjunction with a well-planned eating disorder recovery diet. While there’s no hard and fast rule for fat intake, dietary guidelines typically recommend that people get 30% of their daily calories from fat.

Sources: Psychology Today, Mirror Mirror, Magnolia Creek Treatment Center, Harvard Health Publishing, Health.gov Dietary Guidelines

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