Fat has other drawbacks too. We are genetically programmed to crave it, which was a useful trait in the caveman days because it took an awful lot of effort to hunt a woolly mammoth. Compare that with today, when we complain if the drive-through window is closed.
"There are links between fat intake and reward pathways in the brain," Reimer says. "These chemicals signal pleasure when fat is consumed and make us eat more."
Fat also packs a higher caloric punch — one gram contains nine calories, compared with only four for a gram of protein or carbohydrates.
It all boils down to what an individual can sustain. Some sing the praises of a high-protein/low-carb diet because it makes them feel full even while restricting calories. Others, like me, require unprocessed carbohydrates to fuel our seemingly masochistic need to work out. One diet does not fit all.
There is an urban myth that Twinkies contain so many preservatives they would be the only food to survive the apocalypse. Although that's untrue, I'm willing to bet that if all you ever eat is Twinkies, your personal shelf life will be cut short.
Fell is a certified strength and conditioning specialist in Calgary, Canada.
