A Fatty Diet

You need to have some fat in your diet, but you must be careful not to have too much. It's important to be conscious about the types of fats you consume, along with the quantity, as fats can affect your cholesterol levels, blood pressure and overall health.

Types

There are two categories of fat, according to the Mayo Clinic. These categories consist of good fats and bad fats. Of the two categories, there are three types in each. Good fats include monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat and omega-3 fatty acids. Bad fats include saturated fat, trans fat and dietary cholesterol.

Significance

You may understand the difference between good and bad, but not necessarily know how that actually translates when it comes to fats. The difference is that good fats are natural fats found in plants, nuts and fish. Bad fats and dietary cholesterol are obtained from animals, animal byproducts and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. Bad fat, or bad cholesterol, builds up on the inner walls of your arteries, clogging them, which could lead to a heart attack. Good cholesterol does not build up on the inner walls of arteries. Instead, good cholesterol is carried from your blood to your liver, which allows your body to pass, or expel, the cholesterol.

Risks

Too much fat in your diet can cause obesity. Obesity can lead to life-threatening conditions such as heart attack, stroke, and diabetes. A fatty diet can negatively affect your short-term memory and cause Alzheimer's disease, according to EurekAlert. EurekAlert also reports that consuming a high-fat diet during pregnancy can cause your child to become obese later in life.

Benefits

You need some fat in your diet to lower your risk of developing heart disease, coronary artery disease and help regulate your blood pressure levels, according to the Mayo Clinic. Consuming excessively dangerous amount of fats, however, negates these benefits. Eating some fat, such as healthy fats including fish and nuts, can help lower your risk of heart disease and other related conditions as these are good fats, which boost your good cholesterol levels. In essence, good fats counteract bad fats. Without some good fats in your system, the bad fats would spiral out of control, setting you up for heart complications.

Considerations

To ensure you receive a healthy supply of fats, consume foods such as nuts or cook with vegetable oils obtained from peanuts, olives or canola oil. Consume plenty of cold-water fish such as salmon and herring. Even though good fat is healthy, moderation is still necessary. Stick to the food guide pyramid when it comes to portion control.