The Top 10 Fatty Foods You Should Be Eating Regularly...

Who would have thought we’d hear the words “fat” and “healthy” used in the same sentence, but the times they are a changing as we learn more about important dietary choices and our overall well-being. Once we looked at fats, especially polyunsaturated and total saturated fats, as the devil in disguise, an evil demon who would strike us down much earlier in life and put unnecessary stress and strain on our cardiovascular system, but experts are telling us otherwise.

Recent studies have shown that there is no evidence to support the regular consumption of either polyunsaturated fatty acids or total saturated fats are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease or heart failure. In fact, some foods that seem to be unhealthy due to their higher fat content are actually packed with other important nutrients that are beneficial to our health in many other valuable ways.

Here’s our list of the top ten healthy fats we should be including in our diet:

#1 - AVOCADOS: These south-of-the-border delights are not only delicious and nutritious, they also contain more potassium than bananas and some studies show that people who consume them regularly have less belly fat than those who don’t.

#2 - BEANS: Packed with protein, many vegetarians thrive on these healthy legumes, serving and preparing them in so many different ways.

#3 - CHEESE: Especially hard cheeses like Parmesan pack a powerful amount of calcium for strong bones and more protein than most animal meats.

#4 - COCONUT: Polynesians have been thriving on these tropical wonders for centuries and have been known to have a lower risk for both cancer and heart disease associated with the consumption of these husky tree dwellers.

#5 - DAIRY: While some of us have been steering clear of full-fat varieties of milk and other dairy products, we can’t ignore the other health benefits found from yogurt, butter over margarine and other ways that these bovine bounties enrich our lives.

#6 - EGGS: We used to shy away from these poultry products as they were associated with higher cholesterol levels, however new studies have shown that their yolks and whites haven’t affected these rates in the majority of people.

#7 - FISH: Long associated with being beneficial for better brain power, mackerel, salmon, tuna and other coldwater fish are also packed with vitamin A, protein and healthy omega 3 fatty acids.

#8 - NUTS: While there’s plenty of varieties to choose from, macadamia nuts contain healthy monounsaturated fat, they’re also are high in antioxidants, packed with vitamin E, both omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.

#9 - OLIVES: The fat found in green olives and their oil is also full of mostly heart healthy monounsaturated fat and can actually decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease and heart failure.

#10 - SEEDS: Especially flaxseeds, have a great nutty flavor and just a tablespoon of these seeds have three grams of fiber along with a decent amount of omega 3 fatty acids.

While we’re not supporting a daily diet packed with an abundance of unhealthy fatty, fried foods, we should still be looking at other ways some of these foods can enrich our lives, help us have a healthy and radiant looking skin and make us look beautiful all the time. Like a fine red wine along with some dark, rich chocolate shows some signs of health benefits, they should always be enjoyed in moderation.