One of the jobs that HDL does is grab your LDL or "bad cholesterol" and bring it to the liver where it is broken down and excreted from the body.

It is the kind of fat that you choose that is important. But with a little knowledge you can choose the right fats to optimize your health. Essential fatty acids are vital to the growth and function of nearly every. Then there are other fats that make us more susceptible to diseases.

Basically, some fats kill and other fats heal. First we have to realize that there are fats that can help protect us from diseases, like heart disease. Good fats attack some of the damage done by bad fats. Good fats like essential fatty acids raise your HDL or "good cholesterol".

Your body needs fat to function properly. In our bodies, good fats compete with bad fats, so we need to minimize the bad fats and increase the good fats. Trans-fats are harmful and essential fatty acids are, well, essential.

Sadly, we have been taught that fat is bad for us.