Monounsaturated Fat vs. Polyunsaturated Fat
Mar 3, 2017 under Food and Drinks
These two types of unsaturated fats have some things in common but are both individually important in their own right. Here’s how monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat stack up with one another:
- Both can reduce LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
- Both have shown evidence of positively impacting mood.
- Both have anti-inflammatory properties, although polyunsaturated fat more so than monounsaturated fat.
- Both positively affect the heart, although there is more research explaining the complexities of a diet high in MUFAs and how it decreases the risk of heart disease.
- Both contain nine calories per gram.
- MUFAs help decrease the risk of many types of cancer, while PUFAs have more impact on brain health and cognitive function.
- MUFAs don’t have different fatty acid profiles, while PUFAs contain two separate types of fatty acids: omega-3s and omega-6s, which should be combined in equal amounts. Consuming too much omega-6 and not enough omega-3 is associated with its own list of problems.
