I'm a woman in Texas. I'm married and have a school-aged child. I have a medical background. I'm quite liberal, socially. I love helping people with medical, parenting, and social questions. Don't ask me about tech stuff or finances, because I need advice on those things myself!
Gender: Female
Location: Texas
Age: 34
Member Since: December 17, 2006
Answers: 795
Last Update: September 2, 2007
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Xenolan
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does the fat in a food make you fat? or do the calories or carbs? sorry this is a stupid question, but i'm confused lol. (link)
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Okay, you need three kinds of nutrients. You need fats. Your brain is made up almost entirely out of cholesterol. Your body even manufactures some cholesterol. Without fat, you can't keep warm, your skin gets dry, and eventually you die. You also need protein. Protein is the building block of cells. It helps your body repair cells and build new ones. You need carbs. Those are converted into A.T.P., which is the form of energy your cells use. There are the simple sugars, which your body must use quickly or store quickly and the complex carbs, like whole grain bread, which provides a more long-term source of energy. Excess protein is filtered out through the kidneys, but extra fats can be absorbed and stored in your body and extra carbs can be converted into fat and stored in your body.
What makes anyone fat is getting more calories through any source than she can burn off. Calories are a measure of energy that the food provides the body and if you take in 3000 calories in a day and expend only 2000, then you will gain weight. If you take in only 1000 calories and expend 2000 per day, you will lose weight. Some carbs are worse for you because they are more likely to be converted into fat stores than others. Those include the quick-energy short-chain carbs, such as candy. With fats, there are some that your body needs, such as the Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and some that your body doesn't need more of, like those found in Cheetos.
The best plan is to get the correct amount of carbs, which are found in grains, veggies, fruits, and sugars, the correct amount of fats, and the right kinds - no transfats or hydrogenated fats, and plenty of lean protein. Lean protein builds muscle which increases your body's ability to burn energy provided by the fats and carbs.
What makes people fat is taking in more calories than they burn. You could eat 1500 calories per day of chocolate and not gain and ounce if that's all you ate and you also burned 1500 calories per day. That being said, you would also have problems with your immune system, your energy level, your muscles not getting the right things, and your health would be a mess because you'd be lacking nutrients, so it's not all about the calories. You need a balanced diet so you get in all the things you need and no extra calories.
Sabine
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Rating: 5
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wow, long answer, i didnt understand a lot of it i just asked one simple question but ok ill still give you a 5
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