The difference between polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats can be found at the molecular level. Monounsaturated fats have a single double chemical bond, and polyunsaturated fats have anywhere from two to six double bonds.
- The National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Hyderabad suggests that it is important to obtain the right balance of all three fatty acids in our diet.
- Excessive consumption of SFA saturated fatty acid has been linked with an increased risk of heart diseases and diabetes in a report by the UN.
- MUFAs and PUFAs on the other hand have significant health benefits like,
- Increase in HDL cholesterol, which is the good cholesterol that removes other forms of cholesterol from bloodstream.
- Reducing LDL cholesterol, which is the bad cholesterol that can get stuck in blood vessels and making it narrow, increasing chances of a stroke or heart attack .
- Helps to reduce risk of coronary heart diseases .
- Improving insulin sensitivity, which helps body manage blood sugar and metabolism better .
- It helps to reduce the risk of diabetes .
- While research is still ongoing, the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends eating foods with unsaturated fat instead of saturated fat when possible.
- That’s because research has found that replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fat decrease the risk of heart disease.
- In contrast, replacing saturated fat with refined carbohydrates did not show the same reduction in heart disease risk, and in some cases made it worse.
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