A low fat diet can seem an obvious answer to our dietary and health concerns; however it's becoming increasingly clear that fats are indeed an essential component of our body's functioning.

One of the most harmful secrets about low-fat options is that they are often packed with sugar or other unhealthy substitutions so that the product does not compromise on taste. Nutritionist Christine Bailey, who thinks fats are the most unfairly "demonised" nutrition group, says: "Many consumers still believe 'low-fat' foods are the healthiest options. This is inaccurate and could be damaging for your health. Your body needs fat." We need it for everything from having physically energy to having energy enough to power our brains at their full potential. For women in particular fats are a vitally important factor in producing and regulating hormones.

Many consumers still believe 'low-fat' foods are the healthiest options. This is inaccurate and could be damaging for your health.

Without the right fats our bodies can't absorb vitamins A, D, E and K, all of which are essential for healthy skin, eyes, muscles, bones and teeth, and are vital for the upkeep of our immune systems. Many foods containing good fats, such as avocado, nuts and yoghurt, also contain potassium and magnesium, both of which are vital for proper heart function; not forgetting that essential fatty acids themselves have been proven to play a central role in heart health.

There are of course different kinds of fats: the good ones being the unsaturated fats and essential fatty acids, the bad being saturated and trans-fats. The healthy fats can be found in nuts, leafy greens, oily fish and eggs, to name a few, and for additional support there are supplements available such as MegaRed Krill Oil, which is rich enough in essential fatty acids EPA and DHA to help support your heart. Ensuring enough of these good fats in your diet is particularly important for people over the age of 40, as good fats can help lower cholesterol and avoid problems associated with high blood pressure.

It's certainly easy to be baffled by the amount of advice out there, and certainly difficult to rethink our long term love-hate relationship with fat, but the reality is simple: it's time to stop fearing fat, embrace it and be proactive about nourishing our bodies with the essential fats it needs and can't produce independently.