Super Fats for Super Health

There's always room for more advice. Here are some other tips for balancing the fat in your diet:

Cut back on red meat. Too much red meat can be hard on your body. It can be difficult to digest, and the digestive system slows with age. So, it's better to curb your intake as you get older. It's also high in saturated fat, which can contribute to blocked arteries. And a diet overloaded with red meat has been implicated in colon cancer.

Deal with desserts. Desserts should definitely be enjoyed in moderation, but they can be high in fat. To work around this, eat smaller portions, explore ways to lighten old favorites, or try a ripe mango (my favorite!). Fruit is a delicious alternative to fattening desserts.

Be picky at restaurants. Restaurant food can be a hidden source of saturated fat. Ask not only what is in a dish, but find out how it is prepared. If fats, oils, gravies, or sauces are used, the dish might not be the smartest choice. Ask for dishes to be prepared in a healthy manner. Restaurants don't have to fry everything!

Drink up with organic milk. Organic milk has been shown to be 71 percent higher in omega-3 fats than nonorganic milk. This research is important, particularly if you consider that many people don't eat enough fish to get all the benefits of omega-3 fats.

Learn to love avocados. An avocado is technically considered a fruit. Sometimes called a "super food," it is an excellent source of nutrients, including anticancer antioxidants such as vitamin E and the carotenoids lutein, alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, and zeaxanthin. Because carotenoids are best absorbed into the bloodstream when combined with dietary fat, avocados provide the perfect vehicle for delivering these nutrients to your cells.

The fact is, you can't live without fat. And by eating the right kinds, you'll do your body a world of good.