Know Your Limit When Counting Calories, Fat

Smart splurging means knowing your limits, especially in terms of fat grams.

We require a certain number of calories each day, based on body size and activity. A physician can help determine the right amount of calories for your body’s metabolism and exercise level.

Once you determine a daily allotment of calories, you can determine fat boundaries.

Government guidelines suggest fat intake stay under 30 percent of daily calories; many doctors and nutritionists recommend 20 percent.

Healthy young men with a daily requirement of 2,800 calories should stay under 62 fat grams per day if they want to reach a 20 percent fat content in their diet. For premenopausal women, an 1,800-calorie diet and 20 percent limit would mean 40 fat grams per day.

To calculate your allowable daily fat grams: Multiply your total daily calories by suggested fat intake percentage. Then divide that number by 9.