Differences in fats: mono, poly, trans what does it all mean?

       Not all fats are bad, in fact some fat in our diets is essential for life, especially in infancy and childhood.  Fats are what make up myelin, the surrounding of our nerve fibers.  They also help to support growth and energy in adults.  There are many different kinds of fats, some good and some bad, and they can be confusing if you don't know the differences between them.  The different types of fats include: saturated, polysaturated, monosaturated, and trans fatty acids.  The worst for your cholesterol levels is trans fatty acids which raise your LDLs (bad cholesterol) and lower your HDLs (good cholesterol).  Examples include crackers, cookies, and most heavily processed foods.  Saturated fats also raise your LDLs, but don't really affect your HDLs as much, making them slightly healthier than trans fats, but still unhealthy overall.  Polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated fats both lower LDLs, but polyunsaturated fats also lower your HDLs so they are neither good or bad for you (sort of a wash out).  Examples of polyunsaturated fats include corn oil, vegetable oil, and margarine.  Unlike polyunsaturated fats, monounsaturated fats will lower your LDLs and will not affect your HDLs.  This makes monounsaturated fats your best choice in terms of what type of fat will help lower your bad cholesterol.  Examples of monounsaturated fat are olive oil and canola oil.  These are some really great oils to help nurish your body, but make sure that you are using them correctly.  Don't overheat these oils as the heat can change the biochemical make up of the fat molecules, basically turning them into less healthy polyunsaturated fats.  
    Trying to eat healthy doesn't mean that you are on a diet it means that you are trying to make a life style change.  Start small by switching from processed salad dressings to organic extra virgin olive oil and vinegar with a little salt and pepper.  You can use this to season meats, have with some bread, or of course put over a salad.