Healthy High-Fat Foods You Should Eat

But fat comes in many forms, and the type of fat you consume matters.

Unsaturated fat: Liquid at room temperature and generally considered heart healthy. This type of fat is found in plants like nuts and seeds, as well as in vegetable oils and seafood. On a nutrition label, look for the words "polyunsaturated fats" and "monounsaturated fats."

Saturated fat: Solid at room temperature and found in animal foods, like meat and butter, as well as coconut and palm oil. This type of fat is often deemed "unhealthy" for your heart, but research is equivocal. 

Trans fat: Liquid fats made solid through a process called hydrogenation. The Food and Drug Administration actually banned this type of fat found in fried foods, baked goods, and processed snack foods back in.

"What really matters is where the source of fat is coming from," said Elliot. The fats found in ultra-processed snack foods and store-bought baked goods can increase bad cholesterol, according to the American Heart Association.

 

Olive Oil

Olive oil is the original healthy fat. A tall body of research finds that it helps lower your risk for heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Researchers also reported in 2016 in the journal Molecules that the various components of olive oil, including oleic acid and Seco iridoids, protect your body on the cellular level to slow the aging process. "To get the most health benefits, choose extra-virgin olive oil, as it is extracted using natural methods and doesn't go through as much processing before it reaches your plate," said Elliott.

Fish

You may have heard someone describe fish as "brain food." That's because these swimmers are brimming with omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for brain function, said Elliot. "Your brain is made up of mostly fat, so you need to consume them in order to stay sharp and healthy."

The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend eating ounces of fish per week to get healthy amounts of polyunsaturated omega fatty acids, eicosatetraenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), all of which feed your brain and fight inflammation and chronic disease. If you're concerned about mercury, choose salmon, anchovies, herring, shad, sardines, oysters, trout, and Atlantic and Pacific mackerel, according to the US Food and Drug Administration.

 

Avocados

Avocados do more than provide the keystone ingredient for guac. They may also help lower inflammation, per a study in Advances in Food Technology and Nutritional Sciences. Inflammation is linked to cardiovascular disease.

"You need to consume healthy fats in order for your body to absorb fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K pair them with a salad so you can reap the benefits of all those veggies," said Elliot. Another easy way to get a good dose of avocados is with avocado toast, which can work as a complete breakfast, snack, lunch, or even an easy dinner.

Eggs

For many years the American Dietary Guidelines had a hard limit on daily cholesterol intake, but that restriction was lifted in. Per the American Diabetes Association, for most people, saturated fat (like fatty meats) is the driving force behind high cholesterol, so not eating cholesterol rich foods such as eggs.

That's good news since eggs are packed with protein, vitamins, and minerals. "Eggs from hens that are raised on pastures or fed omega enriched feed tend to be higher in omega," said Elliot.

Tree nuts

Nuts are nature's perfect portable snack. Each handful packs a powerhouse of nutrients, including amino acids, vitamin E, and unsaturated fatty acids. A 2018 study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology showed that eating nuts lowers your risk of cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease.

Nut butter

Those PB&Js your parent put in your lunch bag (and maybe you put in your own kid's now) are also really good for you. "Peanuts are packed with monounsaturated fats which are [often] associated with a decrease in cholesterol and heart disease," Keri Gans, RDN, a registered dietician nutritionist in New York City, previously told Health.

Other nut butters, such as almond and cashew, are also nutritious. "The healthy fats in nut butters can help to keep you full and satisfied," said Elliot. To reduce sugar intake, choose nut butters that list nuts as the only ingredients.

Greek yogurt

About 60% of the fat in full-fat Greek yogurt is saturated, but you may notice about a gram of trans fat on the label. Not to worry unless you see partially hydrogenated oil on the ingredients list (which is unlikely), it's a naturally occurring type of trans fat called conjugated linoleic acid (CLA).

"While man-made trans fats are very unhealthy, ruminant trans fats like CLA may help to protect against type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer," explained Elliot. "To get the most bang for your buck when it comes to yogurt, aim for grass-fed, full-fat yogurt."

 

Olives

The oil from these pressed gems steals the health spotlight, but the fruits themselves deserve a prominent position on stage and on your plate. A research paper in Antioxidants pointed out that they're rich in oleic acid, the monounsaturated fatty acid that protects your heart, as well as antioxidant polyphenols, which protect you from cell damage. They also contain iron, fiber, and copper.

"Expand your horizons beyond the ripe black olives found on pizzas," Leslie Bonci, RD, sports nutritionist at Pittsburgh based company Active Eating Advice, told Health. "Markets have huge olive bars with a wide array of sizes, colors, and textures. Even if you think you don't like olives, there may be a kind you do, you just haven't found it yet."

Just keep in mind that they can be high in sodium. The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend no more than of sodium per day for those and older.