Monounsaturated fat
Monounsaturated fat (MUFA) is a type of dietary fat found in various foods and oils. It is one of the healthier types of fat, along with polyunsaturated fats. Monounsaturated fats are typically liquid at room temperature but start to turn solid when chilled.
Chemical Structure[edit | edit source]
Monounsaturated fats have a single double bond in their fatty acid chain. This structure is what differentiates them from saturated fats, which have no double bonds, and polyunsaturated fats, which have more than one double bond.
Sources[edit | edit source]
Monounsaturated fats are found in a variety of foods and oils, including:
- Olive oil
- Canola oil
- Peanut oil
- Avocado
- Nuts (such as almonds, cashews, and peanuts)
- Seeds (such as pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds)
Health Benefits[edit | edit source]
Consuming monounsaturated fats in place of saturated fats or trans fats can have several health benefits, including:
- Reducing the risk of heart disease
- Lowering levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol
- Improving insulin sensitivity and blood sugar control, which is beneficial for individuals with type 2 diabetes
Dietary Recommendations[edit | edit source]
Health organizations, such as the American Heart Association, recommend that the majority of the fats consumed in a diet should be monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats. It is advised to replace saturated and trans fats with these healthier fats to improve overall health.
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD