Monounsaturated fats

Monounsaturated fats

Monounsaturated fats (pronunciation: /ˌmɒnoʊˌʌnsæˈtʃʊərɪd fæts/) are a type of dietary fat. They are found in high amounts in foods like olive oil, avocado, and certain nuts.

Etymology

The term "monounsaturated" comes from the structure of the fat molecules. "Mono" means one, and "unsaturated" refers to the presence of double bonds in the chemical structure. Thus, monounsaturated fats are fats that have one double bond in their fatty acid chain.

Description

Monounsaturated fats are usually liquid at room temperature but start to turn solid when chilled. They are considered one of the healthiest types of dietary fats, along with polyunsaturated fats.