Which Fats Are Good or Bad for Your Heart?

News flash: Fat is not the enemy.

To stay well, and even to lose weight, you need to include some fat -- the right kind, and not too much -- in your diet. Fats keep each cell in your body working at its best. They make your skin smooth and your hair glossy. They even promote a healthy nervous system -- after all, your brain is composed of 65% fat! Your heart needs some fat, too. Some kinds are better for your ticker than others.

The Good: Unsaturated Fats

These are the best kind to eat. ” They have many health benefits,” says nutritionist Penny Kris-Etherton, PhD, RD. She’s a spokeswoman for the American Heart Association. These good fats help lower your “bad” (LDL) cholesterol. Some are rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.

Take this quick list to your supermarket:

• Olive oil.

• Canola oil.

• Avocado.

• Fatty fish (salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring, trout, albacore tuna -- fresh or canned).

• Nuts (walnuts, almonds, pecans, and hazelnuts are just a few).

• Seeds (chia, pumpkin, sesame, sunflower, and more)

Use these simple tips when you get your groceries home:

• Eat fish twice a week.

• Sprinkle walnuts on your salad or cereal.

• Drizzle flaxseed oil on your salad.

• Top your sandwich, salad, or soup with sliced avocado.

• Choose natural peanut butter -- and mix the oil on top into the rest of the peanut butter.

It’s best to get your omega-3s through food, but if you don’t get enough in your diet, fish oil or krill oil supplements may help. Talk to your doctor about how to get enough daily omega-3s.

Limit Saturated Fats:

These have a bad reputation. They raise your “bad” cholesterol. They’re especially common in animal-based foods, like meat and full-fat dairy products. And those packaged cookies and cakes you love? Chances are, they’re loaded with saturated fats, too.

Check on items like these:

Fatty cuts of meat, Poultry with skin, Butter, Cheese, Dairy products made with whole or reduced-fat milk, Lard, Baked goods, Fried foods, Tropical oils like palm oil, palm kernel oil, and coconut oilGo easy on saturated fats. The American Heart Association recommends limiting them to 5% to 6% of your daily calories. That’s less than 120 calories from saturated fat, if you’re on a 2,000-calorie diet. Or, think of it this way: You need to keep your daily saturated fat to about 13 grams a day. That’s a teaspoon of butter, a cup of ice cream, and an ounce of cheddar cheese. Check the labels!

Try these easy changes:

Have fish for dinner instead of red meat. Chicken’s on the menu? Slip off the skin. Try chili with beans instead of meat. Cook with olive oil instead of butter. Or use less butter. Snack on a handful of nuts instead of cheese.