Fat. Talk about a word that unjustly carries a negative connotation. When someone is overweight, they are considered "fat." When a food is unhealthy, this appellation is typically assigned because of how much "fat" it contains. And when the likelihood of something taking place is low, you're told it's a "fat" chance. Poor fat -- it deserves much better than this.

For all the fat shunners out there, it's important to know that not all fats are bad; in fact, most are essential to total body health. Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are probably among the best examples. Fatty fish, flaxseed oil, dark leafy greens, walnuts, wheat germ, and hempseeds all contain EFAs, which cannot be created by the body and must therefore be obtained from diet. Monounsaturated fats -- such as olive and canola oils, almonds, avocados, and pecans -- are incredibly healthy fats, as are some polyunsaturated fats, such as sesame and sunflower oils.

The fats you want to steer clear of as much as possible are saturated fats (butter, shortening, lard, etc.), trans fats (hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils) and fake fats, such as Olean and Olestra. It's because of these fats that "fat" has gotten such a bad name.