What are monounsaturated fats?
How do monounsaturated fats affect my health?
Are monounsaturated fats better for me than saturated fats or trans fats?
Which foods contain monounsaturated fats?
Are monounsaturated fats lower in calories?
How much monounsaturated fat should I eat in a day?
What are monounsaturated fats?
From a chemical standpoint, monounsaturated fats are simply fats that have one double-bonded (unsaturated) carbon in the molecule. Monounsaturated fats are typically liquid at room temperature but start to turn solid when chilled. Olive oil is an example of a type of oil that contains monounsaturated fats.
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How do monounsaturated fats affect my health?
Monounsaturated fats can have a beneficial effect on your health… when eaten in moderation and when used to replace saturated fats or trans fats. Monounsaturated fats can help reduce bad cholesterol levels in your blood and lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. They also provide nutrients to help develop and maintain your body’s cells. Monounsaturated fats are also typically high in vitamin E, an antioxidant vitamin most Americans need more of.
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Are monounsaturated fats better for me than saturated fats or trans fats?
Yes. Monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats can have a positive effect on your health, when eaten in moderation. The bad fats – saturated fats and trans fats – can negatively affect your health.
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Which foods contain monounsaturated fats?
Most foods contain a combination of different fats. Examples of foods high in monounsaturated fats include vegetable oils such as olive oil, canola oil, peanut oil, sunflower oil and sesame oil. Other sources include avocados, peanut butter, and many nuts and seeds.
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Are monounsaturated fats lower in calories?
Monounsaturated fats – like all fats – contain nine calories per gram.
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How much monounsaturated fat should I eat in a day?
The fats in the foods you eat should not total more than 25–35 percent of the calories you eat in a given day… and, for good health, the majority of those fats should be monounsaturated or polyunsaturated. Eat foods containing monounsaturated fats and/or polyunsaturated fats instead of foods that contain saturated fats and/or trans fats. For practical tips, learn how to Live Fat-Sensibly.
Hear some sensible advice from Mon and meet all the Fats!
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Last update Jan. 2009
