What's the deal with saturated fat for lifters? Need clarity!
I've been diving deep into the saturated fat debate lately, especially in the context of bodybuilders and lifters. The conventional wisdom tends to vilify saturated fats, but some recent studies paint a more nuanced picture. For instance, Schoenfeld and colleagues (2018) found that while high saturated fat intake can be associated with certain health risks, the effects on muscle gain and performance aren't as clear-cut as I expected. It seems like moderate intake could actually support hormonal balance, which is crucial for us.
Looking at a meta-analysis by Helms et al. (2017), it suggested that dietary fat in general, including saturated fat, doesn't significantly hinder muscle growth when overall calories and protein are sufficient. They reported effect sizes showing that those consuming higher fat diets still managed to pack on lean mass, provided they were in a caloric surplus. This makes me wonder if the fear of saturated fat is a bit overblown, especially for lifters who are monitoring their overall intake effectively.
I'm curious how others are incorporating saturated fat into their diets. Is anyone else seeing solid results while including it, or do you all tend to stick with the low-fat route? I'm trying to balance health with performance and would love to hear your thoughts or any studies you think I should check out!