As is the case with cholesterol, it now appears that there are "good" fatty acids and "bad" ones. The good ones are the omega-3 fatty acids, which are thought to confer some protection against the heart's rhythm disorders that are associated with sudden death. At the least, they balance the effects of the "bad" fatty acids, the omega-6 fatty acids, which may encourage the rhythm abnormalities known as arrhythmias.

The latest dietary recommendations from the American Heart Association advise eating two meals of fatty fish every week. You can get omega-3 fatty acids in fatty fish - the darker-meat fish such as salmon, lake trout, sardines and mackerel. Canola oil and flaxseed oils are also good sources of omega-3 fatty acids. To be effective, you should also cut back on saturated fats found in meat and dairy products.

Related information: Diet | About it - Eat heart healthy