Monounsaturated fat

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Type of fat found in various foods

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

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

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

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

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

• Polyunsaturated fat
• Saturated fat
• Trans fat
• Dietary fat
• Nutrition