What are Polyunsaturated fats?

You can find polyunsaturated fats in many different foods. Some examples of foods that are high in polyunsaturated fats are soybeans, fish oil, herring, salmon, mackerel, halibut, trout, grain products, and other fish and sea food.  Omega-6 fatty acids can be found in many vegetable oils such as corn oil, soybean oil, and safflower oil. Some nuts and seeds such as sunflower seeds and walnuts also contain essential fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are commonly known to reduce the risk of heart attacks. Omega-6 fatty acids, also found in polyunsaturated fats, can help with many health risks, as well.

Polyunsaturated fats are polyunsaturated fatty acids. Fatty acids are characterized by having a carboxylic acid at one end and a methyl group at the other end of their chain of fatty acids. Fatty acids contain carbon atoms that are characterized by Greek letters depending on their distance from the end of the fatty acid chain. The closest carbon atom is called the alpha, the next is called the beta, and so forth. The last letter of the Greek alphabet is omega, and that is where we get the term “omega-3 fatty acids”.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids, or polyunsaturated fats, have more than one double bond on the molecule. The absence of an extra hydrogen atom reduces the strength of the acid and means that the fat’s melting point is much lower than other fats. You can also find this by comparing the fat to other unsaturated vegetable oils, most of which remain liquid at cooler temperatures. Saturated fats tend to become solid at lower temperatures, examples of which are lard and butter.

The omega-3 fatty acids found in polyunsaturated fats have been proven to have dozens of health benefits. Some studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids have reduced prostate tumor growth and reduced the risk of breast cancer. When consumed in moderation and used to replace trans fats and saturated fats, polyunsaturated fats can have beneficial effects on your health. The omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids have been proven to help reduce cholesterol levels in the blood. These fatty acids also play an extremely important role in normal growth and development, as well as essential brain function. These fats cannot be produced by the body, and so they must be consumed through your food.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids, also known as “healthy fatty acids”, can help to greatly reduce your bad cholesterol levels. These fats are not only known for their great taste, but also their numerous health benefits, particularly those that affect the heart and brain. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids have also been linked to prevention of many diseases. These diseases include Alzheimer’s, cancer, arthritis, diabetes, gout, stroke and heart attack. By reducing LDL, or “bad” cholesterol levels, polyunsaturated fatty acids help with healthy heart function. Polyunsaturated fats have even been known to help with healthy skin. Cutting out processed foods and foods high in saturated fats and replacing them with unsaturated fats such as polyunsaturated fatty acids can promote health and help prevent many life-threatening diseases.