How long does it take for food to be converted into fat in the body?

Fat deposits in the body are the root of various serious diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, and preventable cancer. Seeing that these health risks cannot be underestimated, it is very important for you to understand how the body converts the food you eat into fat and ultimately gains weight.

The body needs fat to function properly

The body needs energy to carry out every function without stopping every day. The energy is obtained from food. Carbohydrates are the fastest available source of energy so they are the first choice, while fat from food serves as a reserve.

After food enters the body, the digestive system will break it down to obtain nutrients while the rest is absorbed by the body into the bloodstream in the form of glucose, aka blood sugar. The body then automatically sends a signal to the pancreas gland, one of the digestive organs, to produce the hormone insulin. With the insulin hormone, glucose can enter the body's cells to be converted into energy.

However, not all body cells will use glucose as energy. The remaining unused energy will be stored in the liver and muscles as a reserve to be used at a later time, when no food is entered into the body to prevent you from lack of energy. This storage of calories is known as glycogen. After the glycogen calories are used up for energy, the body then activates the calories stored in fat cells, known as triglycerides, to replenish the reduced glycogen calories.

Apart from being a source of reserve energy, fat also helps the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. If your body is deficient in fat, the absorption of vitamins, such as vitamins A, D, E, and K is very limited. Finally, some organs don't work properly. Fat also functions to maintain body temperature to keep it normal.

That is why fat is very important for the body. So, fat does not always have a bad effect on the body. It's just that, if the amount exceeds the need, this is a problem.

How long does it take for food to be converted into fat in the body?

The body begins to store energy or calories from food as fat within four to eight hours of the start of your meal.

That is why you also have to balance the number of portions of food that enter with regular physical activity to burn calories. The aim is to avoid too much harmful deposits of fat in the body. Eating too much but rarely exercising can lead to weight gain.

You are also required to limit your intake of fatty foods. The reason is, one gram of fat from food has 9 calories, which is twice the amount of calories in carbohydrates and protein.

Quoted from Live Strong, the Mayo Clinic recommends getting calories from fat by only 20 to 35 percent. For example, if your calorie needs are around 1,800 calories per day, then you can get 40 to 70 grams of fat per day.

Why can't you eat too much fat? This is because the liver will convert excess glucose into triglycerides or what are commonly known as body fat reserves. Too much fat deposits in the body can increase your risk of developing various degenerative diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes.

Foods that can make the body fat fast

Every food that enters the body can basically increase body weight. Even so, some types of food have a bad reputation for health because they quickly raise blood sugar levels and have little nutritional content. Some of these foods, such as:

Foods that contain refined starches

Starch is refined flour, which is usually found in fried potato chips, pasta, bread, or biscuits. These foods if eaten in excess will cause weight gain very quickly. Low fiber content can slow digestion so that it is converted into glucose more quickly and increases blood sugar and insulin levels.

Foods with added sugar

Who doesn't love candy, ice cream, or cake? Although they taste sweet and delicious, they cause you to gain weight quickly because they have the same effect as foods containing refined starches. In addition, energy drinks and soda also contain added sugars, which increase fat levels, especially belly fat.

Processed meat

Smoked meats, sausages, and other processed meats contain a lot of saturated fat which can increase your weight. These foods also cause a person to develop heart disease, high cholesterol levels, and high blood pressure if eaten in excess.

To maintain an ideal body weight, you need to stay active. When you continue to be active, fat will continue to be used for maximum energy. Then, also pay attention to your food intake. Start by increasing the amount of vegetables and fruit and nuts which also contain good fats for the body. You can still eat sweet or processed foods, but don't overdo it.