What fats are good and which are bad for you?

Good vs bad fat: Try to avoid saturated & trans fats. Saturated fats- butter, lard, fatback & solid shortening. Trans fats- vegetable shortening, select margarines, food fried in partially hydrogenated oil (or containing it), & many types of cookies, snacks & crackers. Monounsaturated & polyunsaturated fats are healthier.

PUFA Toxicity: Most people in industrialized countries get too much polyunsaturated fat of the omega-6 kind: from either natural or partially hydrogenated corn, soy, cottonseed or safflower oils. Only 1% of dietary calories is required as polyunsaturates and most modern diets supply 10% or more. These fats oxidize themselves (the same process makes oil-based paint dry) and increase the need for anti-oxidants.