Eating small amounts of fats contributes to the body's fat-soluble vitamin A, vitamin D and vitamin E, which help to repair body tissues, as well as manufacture hormones and provide some body energy. However, the fats we need are already present in many of the foods we eat (meats, chicken, fish, dairy foods and vegetables) and therefore there is no need to add much to our diet.
Vegetable fats are called 'unsaturated fats'. They are regarded as healthier, because they are less likely to increase your cholesterol (except for palm oil and coconut oil). Sources of unsaturated fats include olive, peanut, canola, sunflower and safflower oils and margarine. Fats from animal foods are known as 'saturated fats'. These include butter and cream