What are unsaturated fatty acids?
Unsaturated fatty acids result when not all carbons in the chemical chain are saturated with hydrogen. This means that the fat molecule contains one or more double bond. The double bonds create “kinks” in the molecule, producing a fat that is fluid at room temperature. Unsaturated fats are known as “good” fats because they help cellular function and promote heart health. There are two types of unsaturated fatty acids: 1. Monounsaturates – fatty acids that contain one double bond. These fats are fluid at room temperature. For example, oleic acid, which is found in olive and sesame oils. 2. Polyunsaturates – fatty acids that contain more than one double bond. These are the most fluid fats of all and include fats such as corn, soybean, and sunflower oils. Essential Fatty Acid oils also fall into this category.
