Dietary Fat and Hormones

The last important function of dietary fat is hormonal support. Fat supplies cholesterol, which is generally classified as HDL or LDL cholesterol. Too much cholesterol, particularly too much LDL cholesterol, can cause plaque formation and buildup in your heart. However, not getting enough cholesterol is also bad.

Cholesterol is important for producing many hormones in the body, including important reproductive hormones, which is why those who follow very low-fat diets often report negative hormonal changes after a while. There’s no need to go overboard with fat, but don’t be afraid of including the right fats in your diet.