Fats Are Not All Equal

Nutrition Tip

Want to be heart-healthy? You have more choices than you might think.

Everyone knows to stay away from saturated fats, but studies now indicate a diet high in monounsaturated fats from olive oil, peanut oil, peanuts or peanut butter can give you the same favorable results as a low-fat diet.

All the diets tested had the same effect on low-density lipoproteins, or LDLs, the so-called bad cholesterol that needs to be held in check if your cardiovascular system is to remain in good shape. The study was the first to evaluate and compare LDL susceptibility to oxidation when the test subjects ate an average American diet, a low-fat diet or a higher monounsaturated fat diet.

The study appeared in the Journal of Nutrition.