Well, there's fat - and then there's fat. We know that there is a difference between the so-called 'good' fats (olive or canola oil, avocados, nuts) and the 'bad' fats (saturated and trans-fats). The heart-healthy Mayo Clinic-recommended Mediterranean Diet actually contains quite a lot of (good)fats. Emerging research suggests that increasing your daily intake of olive oil, for example, may actually lower your (bad) LDL cholesterol numbers.

According to Mayo Clinic experts: "The Mediterranean diet is similar to the American Heart Association's Step I diet, but it contains less cholesterol and has more fats. However, the fats are healthy — including monounsaturated fats, such as olive oil, and polyunsaturated fats, which contain the beneficial linolenic acid (a type of omega-3 fatty acid). These fat sources include canola oil and nuts, particularly walnuts. Fish — another source of omega-3 fatty acids — is eaten on a regular basis in the Mediterranean diet. Omega-3 fatty acids lower triglycerides and may improve the health of your blood vessels. The Mediterranean diet discourages saturated fats and hydrogenated oils (trans-fatty acids), both of which contribute to heart disease."

More info at: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mediterranean-diet/CL00011

Cheers,
Carolyn Thomas
http://www.myheartsisters.org