Whereas saturated fat (found in butter, cheese, etc.) can increase a person's level of “bad” LDL cholesterol, monounsaturated fat can increase the level of “good” HDL cholesterol. Monounsaturated fat can also reduce levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. The net effect of eating monounsaturated fat (in moderation) is a lower risk of heart disease.

Foods that contain monounsaturated fats include:

The American Heart Association recommends that people consume less than 30 percent of their daily calories from any type of fat and choosing monounsaturated fat over saturated fat or trans fat is generally helpful when working to improve cholesterol levels.