Animal Fat: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

The Good

Not only is animal fat good for you, but reducing and replacing animal fats with vegetable oils is likely responsible for the dramatic spike in chronic inflammatory diseases. Monounsaturated fats from plant-based foods such as olives, nuts, and avocados appear to lower heart disease risk more than monounsaturated fats found in animal-based foods.

The Bad

When you think of fat in foods, cheese, meat, dairy, and other animal foods probably come to mind. But there are many fruits and vegetables with fat, sometimes in large quantities. Avoid trans fats, limit saturated fats, and replace them with essential polyunsaturated fats.

The Ugly

Plant-based fats and animal-based fats are very different. While eating too much butter and bacon may increase your risk of heart disease, plant-based fats can help you live a longer, healthier life.