The purpose of fat in our bodies is to control metabolism and immune function.

Fat plays various roles in the body including insulating the body and maintaining body temperature, protecting our organs, acting as an energy reserve, and helping us absorb certain vitamins.

There are 9 calories in one gram of fat.

In contrast, one gram of carbohydrate or one gram of protein each contains just 4 calories.

Food manufacturers use hydrogenation – adding hydrogen to a vegetable oil – to increase the product’s shelf life and to keep the intended flavors longer.

Manufacturers started using partially hydrogenated oils to replace animal fats because they are cheaper, more stable, and they tend to have better taste and texture.

One pound of fat is equivalent to 3,500 calories.

he old rule of thumb for weight loss was that a person needed to burn 3,500 more calories than they consumed to lose 1 pound of body weight. Cut 500 calories per day from foods or exercise to burn that many calories to lose 1 pound. But new research has shown that while there are 3,500 calories in a pound of fat, the amount of calories an individual must burn to get rid of that same pound varies widely. The old 3,500 calorie rule didn’t take into account gender, changes in eating and exercise habits, and changes in energy balance that occur when dieting. If you embark on a weight loss program the best results can be achieved with a combination of diet and exercise, but know that your body may need to burn more or less than 3,500 calories to lose a pound.