If you are diabetic, you want to lower trans fatty acids and raise polyunsaturated fatty acids. Consider reducing amount of processed foods and increasing amount of whole foods you consume. More on diabetic diet: http://www.nutricounter.com/articles/garrett4.htm

If you are on a diet to lose weight, it's a good idea to lower total fat in your diet. Losing weight comes down to calories in versus calories out and fat has more than twice amount of calories as other foods.

5. Types of Fat You Should Choose:

- Polyunsaturated fats are found in flax, corn, safflower, soybean, sesame, and sunflower oils. (These nonhydrogenated fats are liquid at room temperature.)

- Polyunsaturated fats found in fish.

- Monounsaturated fats found in olive oil and canola oil.

Read this article for more information on fat in animal meats: http://www.nutricounter.com/articles/howard1.htm

6. Types of Fat You Should Try to Avoid:

- Any type of hydrogenated fat. This is man-made fat and you will find it in snack foods, margarine, bakery products and other processed foods.

- Man made fat substitutes like Olestra (you might find fat substitutes in fat free snack foods). Even if scientific research could solidly prove that fat substitutes weren't hazardous to your health, these products just perpetrate bad eating habits.

- Animal fats including whole milk, butter, poultry skin, and fatty cuts of meat.

Fat doesn't have to be a bad thing if you choose your fat wisely! If you can choose whole foods over process foods, you will be eating a much healthier diet. Also, for any type of special diet, use your NutriCounter (http://www.nutricounter.com) to help you keep track of your total fat and saturated fat intake.