Whats Monounsaturated?whats Polyunsaturated?
Food fats are a combination of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Nutritionists often classify fats according to the type of fatty acid present in the greatest amount. Thus, some fats like beef tallow, butter, coconut, and palmkernel oils are known as saturated fats. Products such as corn, soybean, sunflower, and safflower oils are called polyunsaturated fats. Canola, olive and peanut oils are known for their monounsaturated fatty acid content. In general, saturated fats are solid at room temperature. They are more stable than unsaturated fats and have less chance of breaking down or becoming rancid over time. That is why saturated fats are often the candidate of choice for commercial frying. Unsaturated fats, both polyunsaturated and monounsaturated, are liquid at room temperature. We typically think of vegetable oils as good sources of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, and low in saturated fats. The exceptions are coconut and palm kernel oils. They co
