What good is dietary fat?

Some of the good things that dietary fat does for us:

• Dietary fat is the primary constituent of all our cell membranes.
• Dietary fat is necessary for the synthesis of a number of important hormones.
• Dietary fat is necessary for the absorption of vitamins A, D, E, & K.
• Dietary fat is the chief storage form of energy in the body. Fats can be efficiently stored within the body, and provide more than two times the amount of energy (in the form of calories) than carbohydrates.
• Dietary fat plays an important role in the maintenance of body temperature. The layer of fat found under the skin acts to insulate the body from extremes in temperature, acting as an internal climate control. In addition, fat surrounds, cushions, and protects the body’s vital organs from physical shock.