Fats are essential for numerous body functions, including cell membrane repair, body warmth, organ protection and energy; some vitamins, appropriately called fat-soluble vitamins, actually need fat to dissolve and be absorbed by your body. A study that evaluated 4,000 60-year-old men and women with high blood pressure levels of polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) that come from fish and plants lowered risk of death.