You may not know this, but fat gets a bad rap… And true, fat is bad… Up to a point. Fat is also good, and necessary for the human body. Everyone needs fat in his or her daily diet.

There are certain fats that are good for the body such as mono-unsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat. The former is a healthy fat that provides protection against such things as heart disease and a variety of cancers.

Mono-unsaturated fat is found in such things as olive oil, avocados, nuts, olives, nut butters and canola oil. Olive oil is also instrumental in lowering cholesterol. Polyunsaturated fat is necessary for the growth of body cells and it also provides the fatty acids that are needed for the health of the skin.

Another much talked about healthy fat is omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in shellfish and other types of fish, and  very important for the healthy functioning of the heart. They reduce inflammation in the arteries; help to lower blood pressure by a small amount; play a role in keeping the walls of the arteries as relaxed as possible; and help to make the composition of the blood less sticky, thereby reducing the chance that a blood clot could take place.

Other potential benefits of consuming an adequate supply of omega-3 fats…

May decrease the risk of breast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer

Can be useful in the treatment of Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis

Preliminary research studies point to the role this healthy fat plays in treating depression. To increase your intake of omega-3 fatty acids include more fish in your diet, as well as ground flaxseed and walnuts.

One healthy way to add more fat into your diet without packing on pounds is to add a selection of nuts to your salads and to sprinkle ground flaxseed on your yogurt. It is also wise to sauté vegetables in olive oil as opposed to vegetable oil.

You can use this information to choose lower fat foods by comparing products and food brands.  Once you have a rough idea of what a healthy intake of fat is, you’ll know what you can and what you can’t have. Get YOUR Diet Solution!

From day to day, the amount of fat you eat will vary.  Some meals and some days will be higher in fat than others.  Even high fat meals can be kept in line with healthy eating as long as you balance those days accordingly.  The average fat intake over the course of weeks and months is important, not the fat intake of every meal and food you consume. Basically, just apply some good ol’ common sense to your diet, and stay healthy!