Fat has become a scary word in the world of nutrition. Discarded at face value, people believe they need to remove fats from their diet to become healthy. However, Rich Gaspari claims otherwise.

In a recent post on Instagram on May 21, the retired bodybuilder shared a clip from his nutrition podcast, busting the big fat myths of dieting. Taking the bull by the horns, Gaspari wrote: "Going too low on fats can hurt more than help."

However, even the inaugural Arnold Classic winner learned this lesson the hard way. Having avoided fats throughout his career of 13 years (1983-1996), Gaspari admitted, "I kept my fats really low. And I think that's what actually shortened my career."

In fact, renowned for his immense conditioning, Gaspari had a diet consisting mostly of protein, consuming only egg whites. "Never really ate yolks, and it's funny, Lee Haney would always recommend taking 3-4 egg yolks," Gaspari added. Since then, the retired bodybuilder has come a long way.

Now, helping others with nutrition and healthy dieting based on scientific evidence, Gaspari understands that fats are an essential building block in our body, helping with recovery, managing hormones, and enhancing long-term performance.

In fact, even contemporary medical and nutritional literature backs this claim.

The complete truth behind the essential body fats

As per the National Health Service UK, a small percentage of fats form an essential part of a healthy, balanced diet, contrary to popular beliefs.

Healthy sources of unsaturated fat, including olive oil, nuts, seed oils, and fatty fish, can help lower the risk of heart disease, fostering healthy HDL cholesterol.

Moreover, matching Gaspari's sentiment on the issue, Harvard argues that polyunsaturated fats are necessary for blood clotting, muscle movement, and inflammation.

Turns out fats aren't something to fear, but something to understand and moderate. In fact, Gaspari, through his nutrition company, argues that fats are what actually drive hormone production and stimulate muscle growth.

After all, dieting is all about providing your body "what it actually needs", as Gaspari quoted, instead of fear-mongering.

What healthy fats are you incorporating into your diet? Let us know in the comments below.

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Written by

Proma Chatterjee

Edited by

Souvik Roy