Question of the month

Flex, July, 2009 by Chad Nicholls

Q: What are healthy fats and why are they important?

A: When it comes to physique building, fats get a bad rap. Healthy fats-monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and omega-3s--are actually a crucial part of your diet. These fats assist in brain function, concentration, hormone function and production, and metabolism. They also bolster your immune system, which keeps you healthy and in the gym year-round.

Foods such as fatty fish, peanut butter, raw nuts, avocados and olive oil--eaten in moderation--are all great sources of these physique-friendly fats. They should make up anywhere from 10%-30% of your diet, depending on your goals.

The fats that you'll want to avoid are saturated fats and trans fats. These contain dangerous levels of cholesterol and can have detrimental effects on body composition.

This month, we pick the brain of nutritionist guru

Chad Nicholls

For more tips from Chad, go to musclemayhem.com