When we eat fats, they are absorbed by our gut and enter our bloodstream as large molecules.

If the level of fats in the blood remains elevated, it can trigger inflammation, leading to various problems including narrowing of your arteries. In the long term this can lead to heart disease and metabolic diseases.

Certain fats such as those from processed meats cause worse responses than healthy fats such as olive oil.

On average it takes 6-8 hours for blood fats to clear after a single meal. But individual ability to process blood fats varies immensely. Some people can eat large amounts of fat and have almost no rise, while others may have dramatic rises that last many hours after that same meal.

Controlling your blood fat level helps to reduce dietary inflammation and is better for your long-term health.

So you shouldn’t just cut them out. Some fad diets will tell you to get rid of fats but this can totally backfire.

Your body needs fats as an important source of energy, to support cell growth, to absorb some nutrients, and produce important hormones. Our research also shows that having fat in a meal can help to control your blood sugar response. And perhaps most importantly, fats enhance flavor, add texture and make a meal taste great.

It’s more about discovering health sources of fat so you can get everything your body needs while staying in control of your blood fat.

Certain foods release fats that may cause more inflammation than others. We also know that on average it takes 6-8 hours for blood fats to clear after a single meal. So, if like most people, you eat every 4-6 hours, fat can build up in your body over several meals.

Controlling this build-up of blood fats can reduce dietary inflammation and is better for your long-term heart health. We help you understand your fat intake and how your body is responding to it, helping you plan healthier meals.

We can actually see the fat in your blood. When we separate plasma from the blood, fats create a cloudy effect. This indicates that the fat from your meal is still in your blood.

Though this is a normal part of the digestion process, it’s important to eat meals containing fats that your body is able to clear quickly.

While food can impact your blood fat, remember that it can affect other parts of your biology too, like your blood sugar and gut health.

ZOE combines all these factors to recommend the best foods for your overall biology, helping you to reduce dietary inflammation and support your gut.