Fats have been scrutinized over the years and have received a bad rap. But, when you think about some of the most nourishing foods available today, they are often rich in fats. Things like coconuts, nuts, seeds, avocados, olives, these are all super healthy and nutrients dense foods, and very rich in healthy fats. These are the fats that are going to provide your body with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant support.

The fats you should stay away from include trans-fats, hydrogenated fats, saturated fats in animal products and damaged and refined oils. This includes fast food and food fried is damaged oils. Not only do these foods trigger inflammation, but the trans-fat, and hydrogenated fat, in particular, can even increase your chances of developing heart disease.

The great news is that there are plenty of plant-based foods rich in healthy fats to nourish and support your body. Understanding that the quality of the fat means more than the quantity is essential to achieving overall health. Your body needs fat to support hormone balance, and to absorb fat soluble vitamins, and healthy fats have even been shown to help keep your waistline slim! Yes, you heard that right, you can enjoy fat and lose weight at the same time! This is the beauty of keeping healthy fats in your diet, and eliminating the unhealthy options. Don’t get hung up on the grams of fat when reading the food label, focusing on healthy fat options, in moderation, healthy fats are an essential part of a nutritious diet.