Monounsaturated Fats: What Are They?

• Monounsaturated fats are fats that have one double bond with a carbon atom, and then all the rest of its chemical bonds are single bonds with other carbon atoms. These fats are liquid at room temperature, and become solid in cooler environments. Olive oil contains monounsaturated fats, as do nuts, seeds, avocados and peanut butter. Additionally, most foods with saturated fat (such as red meat) also contain some amount of monounsaturated fat. Monounsatured fats contain nine calories per gram.
  
  

Importance of Monounsatured Fat in Health

• Monounsaturated fats are important to your health, especially as a substitute for saturated fats. Monounsaturated fats help reduce cholesterol, help cells regenerate and also are high in vitamin E, which is an antioxidant (antioxidants are substances that help prevent cancer). While there is no obvious short-term problem of not consuming monounsaturated fats, if you do not get enough monounsaturated fats in your diet, you are putting yourself at risk for heart attacks and strokes later in life.
  
  

Polyunsaturated Fats: What Are They?

• In contrast to monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats do have multiple double bonds to carbon atoms in their chemical make-up. Otherwise, polyunsaturated fats are fairly similar to monounsaturated fats, including their caloric-to-gram percentage (nine to one) and their consistency at room temperature (liquid, and more solid when chilled). Foods high in polyunsaturated fats include vegetable oils (such as canola oil and soybean oil) and fatty fish (such as salmon and trout). Additionally, some nuts and seeds have polyunsaturated fat.
  
  

Importance of Polyunsaturated Fat in Health

• Much like monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats are much more beneficial to your health than regular, saturated fats. A specific type of polyunsaturated fat, omega-3 fatty acid, appears to have a direct link in decreasing coronary artery disease, according to the Mayo Clinic. Additionally, polyunsaturated fats may help prevent heart disease and irregular blood pressure. Thus, much like monounsaturated fats, a diet low in polyunsaturated fats can create a risk for long-term health defects, especially as most individuals not eating unsaturated fats are eating saturated fats instead.