Good fats bad fats
Fats often get a bad press in the mainstream media, with low fat diets published in glossy women magazines promising to shift the pounds in a matter of weeks. Dietary fats are seen as the naughty villain, the baddy, the reason you can not fit into your old swimsuit. Truth is, a lot of dietary fats are "good fats", vital for hormonal regulation, hair and skin health, and even regulating weight loss. The widespread belief of "fats make you fat" is far too simplistic, and can lead to a diet which is far from healthy and ideal for weight loss.
So, which are the good fats and which are the bad fats? Trans fats are the fats which can lead to the clogging of the arteries and should be generally avoided from the diet. Unfortunately, trans fats are found in processed and fast foods and many cooking fats, so their usage can be relatively high in the west. Generally the so called "good fats" are the monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and omega-3s. These fats are often labelled as the good fats due to studies which show increased cardiovascular health, promotion of good cholesterol, and anti-lamasery properties from their intake.
There are many food sources which are great for the inclusion of good fats in the diet. Olive oil, mixed nuts, flaxseed oil, sardines, avocado, and many oily fish all contain great sources of monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and omega-3 fats. It would be wise to include some sources of fat in your diet to ensure optimal health and well being. Try to drop fast food, crisps and other foods which are often filled with the so called "bad fats", and ensure your dietary fat intake is mainly from the great variety of sources listed above.
A lot more further information on fats can be found in this article by Nigel Kinbrum on Fitness Uncovered – All About Fats. Nigel knows a great deal about fats and nutrition, so if you are interested in learning more about fats his article is a great read. His other articles on Fitness Uncovered which will likely also be of benefit are; All About Cholesterol And Coronary Heart Disease, All About Eggs, All About Linseeds/Flax-seeds & Flax-seed Oil, and All About Coconut Oil.