by Joan Collins

Created on: June 01, 2009   Last Updated: February 28, 2010

It sounds like an oxymoron, but the fact remains.  You must eat fat to lose fat.   Equally surprising might be that your body needs to consume fat to be healthy.  The problem is that good fats can help you lose weight  but bad fats will just make you fatter.  It becomes important for you to understand which fats are the healthy, good fats.

First, let us look at a few fats that are best left on the table.  Hydrogenated fats, like margarine, canola oil and vegetable do not help you maintain your health or lose weight.  The bad fats encourage your body to store fat.

Fats are helpful for your body if their names are monounsaturated, polyunsaturated or Omego-3. Each fat listed has benefits that will help your body enjoy its ultimate health. Let's look at each of them more carefully.

Monounsaturated fats are found in nuts and seeds, olive oil, peanut oil, and avocados.  These good fats can actually help you lose weight by increasing your body's metabolic process.

Polyunsaturated fats are found in nuts and seeds as well as vegetable oils such as sunflower, corn, safflower, cottonseed and soy. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats can help the body by lowering your risk of heart disease. It decreases cholesterol levels in your body. Fats must be present in the diet for your body to be able to absorb vitamins A, D, E, and K. It slows down food digestion and allows your body to have more time to absorb more nutrients. It helps the body feel fuller longer.

Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats. They are found in flaxseeds, flax oil, walnuts, and fatty cold-water fish such as salmon and herring. These fats are very beneficial to your heart. Studies indicated that it might decrease your risk of coronary artery disease. It can also protect you against heart arrhythmias and may help lower your blood pressure a little.  Walnuts have Omega-3 and Omega-6, but contain more of the latter fat; therefore your diet needs to include other sources of Omega-3.

There are preliminary indications that omega-3 fatty acids may be useful in therapy for treatment and possibly preventions of liver cancer. It may lower the possibility of an individual developing brain lesions that lead to memory loss and dementia. It has also proven helpful in dealing with depression.

Fatty acids affect almost ever facet of your body. They are necessary for the functions of your brain, your eyes, your organs, your nerves and your heart. They help your cells walls, your lungs, your immune system and your digestion. Without fat in the diet, the function of all these organs and systems would cease to function properly.

While you should definitely avoid most saturated fats and trans fats, all fat intakes should be restricted. Even the good fats should comprise between twenty-five and thirty-five percent of your total calorie intake.  While it should be used sparingly, real butter is actually better for your body than margarine and butter substitutes.  

Get to know your fats.  They can make or break your diet and your health.  

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