The Power of Healthy Fats

We all want to look and feel our best all year round. Working out and eating a balanced diet is an essential part of successfully caring for our bodies. But, does a balanced diet include fats? What about protein?

Perfect Bar has both, with more fat content than protein. But, what does that mean, and does that still qualify this snack as a better-for-you food? Let’s unwrap this question. 

Fat and Protein Work Together

Whether you’re just getting into food tracking or you’re an old veteran, you’ve probably heard of monitoring your macronutrients. These are the foods that give your body energy and keep your systems functioning. They include:

• Proteins.
• Fats.
• Carbohydrates. 

As opposed to micronutrients, which your body doesn’t require a lot of, macronutrients are the mainstay of your daily diet. These three powerhouses work together to keep your body healthy, but quality is key as well as moderation. We’ll dig a little deeper into both protein and fats. 

The Importance of Fat

Fats help your body to regulate its temperature, absorb vitamins, and protect your heart and brain health. Even though this necessary macro is called “fats,” it doesn’t naturally add inches to your waist — especially when you consume more “healthy” fats than “bad” fats. 

Good vs Not-So-Good Fats

“Bad” fats, including artificial trans fats and saturated fats, can be found in food like potato chips and are often the culprits for weight gain, clogged arteries, and an increased risk of heart disease. 

Good fats, such as those found in avocado, oils, and fish, contain omega-3 fatty acids — the brain foods. Unsaturated fats, including monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats, help to enhance your mood, energy, and brain function, according to Harvard Health. They can also help improve:

• Risk of heart disease and stroke.
• Blood pressure.
• Heart rhythms.
• Cholesterol. 

Fatty Acids

While fats are the slowest source of energy, they are the most efficient form of food for your body, according to the Merck Manual. There are two types of fatty acids: synthesized and essential fatty acids. Synthesized fatty acids are made by the body, whereas essential fatty acids must be consumed in the diet. 

You can find essential fatty acids in vegetable oils and marine fish oils. Deep sea fish hold omega-3 fatty acids, something that many Americans are known to lack. Cooking oils often contain omega-6 fatty acids which are good for you, yet trans fat are commonly found in hydrogenated vegetable oils — something that can contribute to overly high cholesterol levels. 

Why Do Healthy Foods Contain More Fats Than Proteins?

Healthline helps to set the record straight on fats, noting that fats are a major contributor to well-balanced, healthy bodies. Some foods that are high in fat contain important nutrients that your bodies need. 

If you consume two eggs, for example, you not only get a meal’s worth of protein but also 50 grams of the daily value of choline, an essential nutrient for brain and nerve health. Fatty fish, nuts, dark chocolate, cheese, and avocados all fall in the same bin of high fat and high value. 

Although high-fat foods are typically higher in calories, they’re often nutrient-dense and form an important part of a whole-food diet. 

Perfect Bar Fats 

The fats in Perfect Bar come from our nut butter bases and a variety of seed oils that contain unsaturated fats. These oils include: 

• Flax seed.
• Sesame seed.
• Olive.
• Pumpkin seed.

Our bars are made of whole-food ingredients that make sense. Because we use a combination of healthy fats sources and protein, our bars help keep your belly satisfied between meals and give you a satisfying snacking experience. 

Macronutrients support your body in different ways. Protein and fats work together to help you feel fuller with less food. Because the fats in Perfect Bar come from our nut butter bases and a variety of seed oils, we can incorporate both protein and healthy fats easily. 

Healthline notes that protein helps reduce the hunger hormone ghrelin and boosts levels of peptide YY, which makes you feel full. So, if you’re in between meals and just need a snack to get you through this next long meeting, protein-filled snacks can help you get there. Our bars also contain dried whole egg and rice protein for higher protein levels. 

PubMed Central’s 2022 study on omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids uncovered that this type of healthy fat supports the brain’s neurotransmitters and functions. This study’s results found that omega-3 “increases learning, memory, cognitive well-being, and blood flow in the brain.” 

Together, you’re not only staving off your hunger but you’re heightening your productivity and engagement as well. Feeling fuller for longer can help support a healthy weight, too. 

The Glycemic Index and “Healthy” Foods

However, you should also be aware of the glycemic index (GI) when you choose food. GI measures how carb-containing foods influence your blood sugar levels. The more moderate the GI level, the better. Foods containing protein, fat, and fiber are typically low GI. This is because protein and fiber slowly release energy whereas high GI foods usually contain high levels of sugar. 

It’s best to focus on foods that are made with whole foods and include fiber, healthy fats, and a quality source of protein. 

Balancing the Good With the Bad

We don’t love to compare one food to another, but it’s important to be mindful as you meal prep and snack throughout the day. If you work in an office, that snack machine can start to look appealing after a long, dreary work day. 

No one expects you to wake up looking like a model every day, and that shouldn’t be your goal. Human bodies fluctuate on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis, so locking into the latest diet splashed across grocery store magazines could be counterproductive in the long run. 

Instead, you can tap into whole foods that offer all of the nutrients your body needs without depriving it of anything necessary to function. To manage your health and weight, look for mealtime and snack foods that contain good fats and protein. These can help you feel satiated between meals while improving your ability to focus and stay engaged during the work day. 

Meal Prepping 

If the vending machine is too much of a temptation, meal prepping your meals and snacks can help you stay on track. And, meal prepping doesn’t have to be a long time suck on your day, either. Next time you go grocery shopping, add in some time when you get home to meal prep before putting anything away. This can help make the process a lot smoother and cuts the time you need to defrost and pull everything out again on a different day. 

Now, every body and its needs are different, so we won’t go into portioning out your foods. However, during your work day, look for whole foods that contain fiber, protein, fats, and carbohydrates for your main meals. For snacks, aim for the same but prioritize fats and protein for the brain power and fullness they provide. 

The best plan of action when it comes to portion sizes is to talk to a dietitian or your primary care doctor for recommendations. 

Fats for Good

Fats are nothing to be scared of because you can use their powers for good! Perfect Bar snacks are well-balanced and contain the fats, proteins, and carbohydrates your body needs to work between meals, meetings, and mayhem. 

And, we’ve made stocking up and never running out easy with our subscription program. Join today for discounts and regular Perfect Bar deliveries right to your door. 

Our bars are made of whole-food ingredients that make sense. Because we use a combination of healthy fats sources and protein, our bars help keep your belly satisfied between meals and give you a satisfying snacking experience.