Moira, To answer your question: the fats that are nutrients that we need for good health are found most abundantly and only in significant amounts in (1) raw nuts/seeds, (some amounts of these that are cooked is ok if and only if consumed within a few hours after cooking) and (2) in fresh fatty fish, espeically bass, tuna, salmon and mackerel (fresh but cooked is OK); of course if from a good source (reliable Japanese grocer etc), it can be eaten raw as do the Japanese for the maximum health benefits. > Does anyone have any ideas of how to find a safe (not contaminated with > bacteria) source of raw animal fat? My son is on a lo carb diet and needs > energy (fat) sources. Of course right now he is getting cooked fats like > pork fat. He gets raw dried meats like dried venison, raw dried turkey, etc. > But, I do not have a source of raw fat. The book I have just read on this topic of fats is a fairly recent one, stating that the exact minimum and optimal requirements for these fats are NOT precisely known yet. Flax seed has high amounts of one of the two fatty acids we need, and fat fish can supply the other. Other raw seeds can supply some of the fat we need, such as almonds or sesame. Safflower oils, if truly cold pressed are also high in natural healthy fats. These required fats, LA & LNA are NOT found in any significant amounts in other foods (meat, poultry, vegetables, fruit, sea vegetables, dairy or other foods commonly consumed in the western diet). This book is by Udo Erasmus, called Fats that Heal, Fats that Kill. As far as I know it is the most detailed book that completely outlines the biochemistry of fats as a nutrient in the human diet. He discusses the need for fats, and talks about how cooked fats (of any type) can be injurious. It never became very popular, and I suspect that has to do with the fact that it is written for someone with a bent for molecular biology (which I have a little background in) and is very technical, and therefore disinteresting to the lay person. Surprisingly enough, if the diet is insufficient in these required fats, you can become obese as a result !! regards, roberta [log in to unmask]