To be heart healthy, you don't have to resign yourself to fat-free eating. Saut your salmon in some olive or coconut oil. Savor a small handful of peanuts. Truth is, knowledgeable physicians and dieticians see interesting side benefits from moderating your consumption of fats, and being choosy about which ones you eat.
Studies associate a Mediterranean-style diet with lower risk of heart disease.
These diets are rich in monounsaturated fats, primarily olive oil. Other good sources are peanuts and other nuts, avocados, and olives. Such fats, rich in heart-healthy oleic acid and plant sterols, scrub away harmful LDL cholesterol. Olive or coconut oils, avocados, some nuts and nut butters, and similar monos actually increase levels of HDL, good cholesterol. Ok, we know that.