Go for the Good Fats

In the constant battle to reach and maintain good health, fats regularly come in for a good kicking. But health expert John Elkington cautions over-generalizing about fats and oils can be dangerous.

"Cutting down on certain fats can be a good idea," says Elkington, co-author with Julia Hailes of "The New Foods Guide" (Victor Gollancz), "but fats play a vital role in our bodies." These include helping regulate cholesterol, process some chemicals, provide energy, cushion the organs and maintain healthy skin.

Nor, he says, are low-fat or reduced fat foods necessarily a good way to cut back on so-called trans-fats, or hydrogenated fats. "The catch is that these products may be high in sugar and so won't be low in calories -- so read labels carefully."

Elkington favors olive and linseed oils in the debate over various oils and fats. Olive oil is cholesterol-free and helps lower so-called "bad" LDL cholesterol that helps make blood vessels furry, he says, and linseed oil -- found in nuts, vegetables, fish and game -- can help reduce cholesterol.

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