[slvrangl]

What is calories from fat? I don't understand what it means and what i am looking for. Is there a number that is unhealthy or something? I'm so confused!!

[zoodoo613]

Calories from fat aren't bad themselves, although there are better and worse types of fat. Transfats, partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, and too much saturated fat should be avoided.

The only other problem with fat is that it adds up quickly. Protein and carbs each have about 4 calories per gram. Fat has 9 grams, so calories from fat add up quickly.

[kaplods]

Some people do believe that percentage of calories from fat does matter (just as some people believe that percentage of calories from carbs and/or protein matters). There are many differing opinions over which levels or targets are healthy/unhealthy.

I'd suggest not worrying about anything you don't understand, while you learn. Focus on one step at a time, for example calories, and when you're familiar and comfortable with that, then decide what other information you want to learn and consider.

One thing to always keep in mind though is that nutrition (like medicine) is as much an art of practice as science. Some of the facts are certain, but there are also many unproven (or only partially supported) theories.

[Nola Celeste]

"Calories from fat" just refers to what percentage of a food's total caloric content comes from fat. As Zoodoo points out, fat contains more calories per gram than other macronutrients; it's very calorie-dense stuff.

That doesn't make fat "bad"; on the contrary, we need about two tablespoons of some form of fat per day for optimal health, so you don't want to cut it down too far. It does mean, though, that foods with a high fat content--bacon, butter, nuts--tend to have high calories. As a calorie-counter, you're probably going to want to use these high-fat (and therefore high-calorie) foods as accents and flavorings rather than as the substance of a meal.

I don't actually pay much attention to the "calories from fat" on the label. I'm more interested in just plain old calories, because those are what I count.