Whats the difference between polyunsaturated, monounsaturated fats and other kinds of fats? ?!
Question: Whats the difference between polyunsaturated, monounsaturated fats and other kinds of fats.? .?
Now you hear all these good things about certain oils and fats but before none of that matter. So what's the difference between the fats mentioned and those that werent mentioned.? What kind of fat are Omega 3s, 6s and 9s.?Health Question & Answer
Answers:
This is gonna have some chemistry. Bear with me for a bit. If you know about the chemistry, everything about fats will make a lot more sense.
The backbone of a fat molecule is a string of carbon molecules connected to each other:
-C-C-C-C-C-C-
(See my sources for a link to nicer diagrams.) A carbon atom can make four bonds to other atoms. As you can see, each of the Carbon atoms in my pathetic diagram above is attached to two other carbons. It has used only two of its four possible bonds.
To fill those other bonds, the backbone makes bonds with a bunch of hydrogen atoms. (Hydrogen atoms can make only one bond each, so you don't need to worry too much about them.) Here's one of the carbon atoms with its Hydrogen. You can see it has four bonds:
?H
?|
-C-
?|
?H
But sometimes not all of the carbons are attached to two hydrogen atoms. Instead, sometimes two of the carbons form an double-strength bond between themselves instead. That means they're each using three of their four bonds to attach to other carbons. They will only have one bond left for hydrogen:
?H ?H
? | ? |
-C=C-
So how does that translate into the fats we know.? We just need to look at their names. "Mono" means one. In a monounsaturated fat, there is only one double carbon bond in the entire fat molecule. In the long string of carbons, only two of them share a single double bond. "Poly" means many. Polyunsaturated fats have more than one double carbon bond per molecule. As you go down the string of carbons, you will find more than one pair of carbons that are double bonded to each other. In a saturated fat, there are no double carbon bonds at all. Each carbon is using both of its extra bonds to connect to hydrogens. You can think of it as "saturated" with hydrogen.
As for Omegas 3, 6, and 9, they're names for specific types of unsaturated fats. The number specifies exactly where in the molecule the first double carbon bond is located.
When it comes to health, the important difference between saturated and unsaturated fats is their shape. A saturated fat molecule is long and straight. Unsaturated fats, on the other hand, have at least one double carbon bond. Double carbon bonds make the molecule bend. The more double bonds it has, the more bendy it will be. Really bendy molecules don't tend to pack together well. Long, straight molecules like saturated fats will pack together well, letting them come together to form tightly-packed solids in unfortunate places, such as your arteries. This is how saturated fats can cause plaque.
One last type of fat: Trans fats are monounsaturated fats, so they have one double carbon bond. But it's a different type of double carbon bond that doesn't cause the molecule to bend. So it's still a long, thin molecule that packs well, so it can still make plaque buildup and raise the risk of heart disease. It also seems to raise risks for a variety of other health problems, but I don't have the knowledge to understand exactly how.
Whew! I hope that answered some of your questions.Health Question & Answer
The backbone of a fat molecule is a string of carbon molecules connected to each other:
-C-C-C-C-C-C-
(See my sources for a link to nicer diagrams.) A carbon atom can make four bonds to other atoms. As you can see, each of the Carbon atoms in my pathetic diagram above is attached to two other carbons. It has used only two of its four possible bonds.
To fill those other bonds, the backbone makes bonds with a bunch of hydrogen atoms. (Hydrogen atoms can make only one bond each, so you don't need to worry too much about them.) Here's one of the carbon atoms with its Hydrogen. You can see it has four bonds:
?H
?|
-C-
?|
?H
But sometimes not all of the carbons are attached to two hydrogen atoms. Instead, sometimes two of the carbons form an double-strength bond between themselves instead. That means they're each using three of their four bonds to attach to other carbons. They will only have one bond left for hydrogen:
?H ?H
? | ? |
-C=C-
So how does that translate into the fats we know.? We just need to look at their names. "Mono" means one. In a monounsaturated fat, there is only one double carbon bond in the entire fat molecule. In the long string of carbons, only two of them share a single double bond. "Poly" means many. Polyunsaturated fats have more than one double carbon bond per molecule. As you go down the string of carbons, you will find more than one pair of carbons that are double bonded to each other. In a saturated fat, there are no double carbon bonds at all. Each carbon is using both of its extra bonds to connect to hydrogens. You can think of it as "saturated" with hydrogen.
As for Omegas 3, 6, and 9, they're names for specific types of unsaturated fats. The number specifies exactly where in the molecule the first double carbon bond is located.
When it comes to health, the important difference between saturated and unsaturated fats is their shape. A saturated fat molecule is long and straight. Unsaturated fats, on the other hand, have at least one double carbon bond. Double carbon bonds make the molecule bend. The more double bonds it has, the more bendy it will be. Really bendy molecules don't tend to pack together well. Long, straight molecules like saturated fats will pack together well, letting them come together to form tightly-packed solids in unfortunate places, such as your arteries. This is how saturated fats can cause plaque.
One last type of fat: Trans fats are monounsaturated fats, so they have one double carbon bond. But it's a different type of double carbon bond that doesn't cause the molecule to bend. So it's still a long, thin molecule that packs well, so it can still make plaque buildup and raise the risk of heart disease. It also seems to raise risks for a variety of other health problems, but I don't have the knowledge to understand exactly how.
Whew! I hope that answered some of your questions.Health Question & Answer
The best fat sources come from the essential fatty acids.
Omega 6's and Omega 3's.
Most of us get plenty of Omega-6s from cooking oils. But i always supplement with Evening Primrose Oil.
Omega-3's are harder to get. I always recommend Whole Omega-3 eggs, Fatty fish like salmon, swordfish, tuna and mackerel. or capsules.
Almonds and Cashews have some Omega 3's (as well as Omega 6s)
You can get your Monosaturates (Omega 9's) from Extra virgin olive oil and macademia nut oil. they aren't essential but they are great for the metabolism! They are also a great source of energy and they are extremely good for your heart!
Hope i've helped.
good luck!Health Question & Answer
Omega 6's and Omega 3's.
Most of us get plenty of Omega-6s from cooking oils. But i always supplement with Evening Primrose Oil.
Omega-3's are harder to get. I always recommend Whole Omega-3 eggs, Fatty fish like salmon, swordfish, tuna and mackerel. or capsules.
Almonds and Cashews have some Omega 3's (as well as Omega 6s)
You can get your Monosaturates (Omega 9's) from Extra virgin olive oil and macademia nut oil. they aren't essential but they are great for the metabolism! They are also a great source of energy and they are extremely good for your heart!
Hope i've helped.
good luck!Health Question & Answer
I know that saturated fats come from animals and are solid at room temp. Unsaturated fats come from plants and are liquid at room temp. Your omega fats come from fish and are good for you. Trans-fats are bad for you and it lowers your good cholesterol and raises your bad. Hope that helps wish I could give you more detail. I try staying away from sat and tranfats. Health Question & Answer
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Saturated fats have absorbed all the hydrogen atoms they can. Unsaturated fats have not.
"Poly" just means it is a chain of three or more on these fats.
Trans fat is not saturated, but the hydrogen atoms are on opposite sides of the molecule.Health Question & Answer
"Poly" just means it is a chain of three or more on these fats.
Trans fat is not saturated, but the hydrogen atoms are on opposite sides of the molecule.Health Question & Answer
poly means many..mono--1Health Question & Answer