When it comes to dieting and eating healthy, it seems like we’re always being told a different way of doing things. While some people claim that eating one thing is going to be great for your body, others will state the complete opposite opinion. One thing that’s gotten a bad reputation in the food and diet industry is fat. However, fat is something that can be very beneficial to both your mind and your body. So the next time you’re at a nice restaurant, consider these reasons why you might want to choose a meal with a little more fat in it.

Helps With Muscle Function

As was mentioned above, eating more fat in your diet can have a lot of health benefits to your body. Among these, according to Ysolt Usigan, a contributor to Shape.com, shares that fat can help your muscles work more effectively, especially for women. This happens through consuming a lot of the omega-3 fat. This particular type of fat is readily apparent in things like fish. In addition to helping with your muscles, omega-3 fat also helps with brain development. So if you’re a woman who’s pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, make sure you’re getting enough of this fat in your diet.

Raise Your “Good” Cholesterol

Having the right amount of the right fats in your diet can also help with your cholesterol levels. According to Mallory Creveling, a contributor to CNN.com, this is a myth that many people have believed for quite a long time. Cholesterol is a type of fat that was previously thought to raise the cholesterol in your body. However, that has been proven to not be the case. In fact, dietary cholesterol has actually been proven to raise the HDL, also known as the “good cholesterol” in your body. But when eating fats to improve your cholesterol, you just want to be sure that you’re eating the right type of fats. Fats you’ll want to steer clear of include things made with or from vegetable oils or hydrogenated oils.

Stay Fuller For Longer

If you’re hoping to lose weight, you’re going to have to make some adjustments to your current diet. Typically, this means eating less food than you might have otherwise been consuming. But if you’re eating less, you’re going to want to be able to stay full for as long as you can after eating your meal. This is where fat comes in. According to Gabrielle Frank, a contributor to Today.com, studies have found that unsaturated fats keep you feeling fuller for longer periods of time and help you regulate your appetite. So if your diet leaves you always feeling hungry, try to up your intake of healthy fats.

To experience the benefits mentioned above, consider eating more fat on a daily basis.