No really, fat is GOOD for you.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Fat is not as evil as we deemed it in the 80's (we only got fatter) and the poor nutrient is in a desperate need of a media makeover. Sure, it's not as simple as 'eat as much fat as you like, it won't matter,' but we do need to start looking at fat in a different light.

Tom Mueller, author of Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil, tackles the subject in Olive Oil and the F Word where he reminds us that fat "controls and modulates your fertility, your appetite and your mood" as well as your immune system. A healthy intake of natural fat also keeps your skin and hair soft and radiant. I remember my favorite esthetician once telling me how she could tell which clients were on low-fat diets due to their skin appearing more thin, dry and dull. Great skin, a healthy immune system, and a regulated metabolism - isn't this what we all want?

So the challenge today is how to convince the general public that it's OK to eat some fat. Perhaps we need to look to Southern Europe, and Greece especially, where families consume large amounts of olive oil - whole pitchers of the stuff - in a matter of days and yet obesity is rare. And it's not just olive oil. Look at the French, for instance. The entire country lives off of cream, butter, and cheese and we envy their waistlines. It's certainly time to start asking some questions. In the meantime, pour on the olive oil!