Minimum Fat Requirements

Question: "Is there a minimum amount of fat intake the body needs to function properly?"—Cara Wolfe, via e-mail

Answer: Scientists couldn't safely conduct a study to determine the smallest amount of fat on which people can survive. But there isn't much need to: Dietary fats supply nutrients you can only obtain from food—namely the omega-3 and omega-6 fats; they make fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K available to your body; they promote fullness; and they are a concentrated source of energy. Make unsaturated fats, such as those from vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, fish, and avocados, your go-to sources.

See more: The Facts on Fats and Fat: Fact or Fable