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Which fats are good and which fats are bad?
By Ellie Krieger November 7 Follow @Ellie_Krieger

Adapted from a recent online discussion.

Fat is a hot topic these days, and the science on it has definitely
evolved in the past 10 or so years. Here are a few highlights to consider:

—� Total fat (the percentage of fat in your diet) does not seem to be an
issue when it comes to health; it is the type of fat that you eat that
has the impact on your health.

—� Unsaturated fats, especially omega 3 (fish) and monounsaturated fat
(olive oil/canola), have a protective effect on your health.

—� Trans fats (mostly in processed foods) should be avoided completely.

—� Saturated fat (coconut oil/butter/cream) may not be as bad for us as
we once thought, and we are learning more about the different types of
saturated fat and their effects. But they do not appear to be protective
like unsaturated fats are, so it is best to continue to focus on those.

—� Regarding egg yolks, the yolk of an egg contains all of its fat (much
of it saturated) and cholesterol, but it also contains most of its
nutrients €” minerals, vitamins, etc. One whole egg a day is fine for a
heart-healthy diet and offers a lot when it comes to nutrition and
satisfaction.

—� We do need fat for health, but we do not necessarily need animal fat.
Essential fatty acids come from plant sources. Interestingly though,
lard has less saturated fat than butter, so it is no worse than butter
but somehow has a worse reputation. All fats have a variety of fatty
acid types.