Fats and Your Heart 2
Monounsaturated fats and your heart
LDL cholesterol levels drop and HDL cholesterol levels stabilize (and sometimes rise) when monounsaturated fats replace saturated fats in the diet.

Researchers discovered the value of monounsaturated fats in part by studying the Mediterranean diet, which is associated with low rates of coronary heart disease despite a relatively high amount of dietary fat.

Olive oil is the main source of fat in the Mediterranean diet. The diet is also rich in fruits, vegetables, and grains. The relatively low amount of animal foods in the Mediterranean diet may also account for its heart-healthy benefits.