What are fatty acids?
Fatty acids are compounds consisting of long carbon chains. They are the building blocks of lipids. Fatty acids can be divided into two main groups: saturated and unsaturated. Saturated fatty acids are those that form most of the solid fats or animal fats with some exceptions, such as the coconut fat or palm oil. Unsaturated fatty acids are those that form most of the liquid fat or oils that are plant-based. The unsaturated fatty acids can also be divided into two groups: monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. Examples of monounsaturated fatty acids are olive and canola oils. Common sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids include sunflower, safflower, corn, soybean, and flaxseed oils as well as walnuts. Which are the most recommended types? High consumption of saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol can increase the risk of heart disease, so try to limit their consumption by choosing foods that are low in those fats. Major sources of saturated fat, whose consumption should be limited in