Polyunsaturated

Polyunsaturated (pronunciation: /ˌpɒliːʌnˈsætʃəreɪtɪd/) refers to a type of fat found in certain foods and oils. The term is derived from the Greek words 'poly' meaning 'many', and 'unsaturated', referring to the chemical structure of these fats.

Etymology

The term 'polyunsaturated' is derived from the Greek word 'poly', meaning 'many', and 'unsaturated', which refers to the chemical structure of these fats. The term was first used in the early 20th century to describe fats that have more than one unsaturated carbon bond in the molecule, also known as a double bond.

Definition

Polyunsaturated fats are fats in which the hydrocarbon molecules have two or more double bonds. This means that there are two or more pairs of hydrogen atoms that could be added to the molecule, making it more saturated with hydrogen. Polyunsaturated fats are typically liquid at room temperature and include fats such as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

Related Terms

Saturated fat: A type of fat that contains only single bonds between carbon atoms. Saturated fats are typically solid at room temperature.
Monounsaturated fat: A type of fat that contains only one double bond in the molecule. Monounsaturated fats are typically liquid at room temperature.
Omega-3 fatty acids: A type of polyunsaturated fat that is essential for human health. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in foods such as fish, walnuts, and flaxseeds.
Omega-6 fatty acids: Another type of polyunsaturated fat that is essential for human health. Omega-6 fatty acids are found in foods such as vegetable oils, nuts, and seeds.

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Polyunsaturated
Wikipedia's article - Polyunsaturated

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Polyunsaturated