Fat makes you fat. What could be more logical than that? Unfortunately, it's not quite true. Bad fat certainly can pack on the pounds, but there is such a thing as good fat. In fact a deficiency in essential fatty acids can lead to all manner of health problems. The two major categories of fat are saturated and unsaturated. Saturated fats mostly come from animal sources. Their problem lies in their ability to elevate blood cholesterol levels. They also lack the essential fatty acids needed by the body.

Unsaturated fats are further divided into polyunsaturated and monounsaturated types. They are mainly derived from vegetable plant sources and are usually liquid at room temperature. Polyunsaturated fats contain essential fatty acids such as Omega -3 and Omega-6. Both types help to improve heart health by lowering blood cholesterol levels.