Goat cheese bites with marinated sesame seeds

Unsaturated fats are a broad category of fatty acids we consume in our diets. Although they are commonly known as “healthy fats,” some unsaturated fats can actually worsen our health. In fact, unsaturated fatty acids represent each end of the health spectrum, from completely toxic trans fats to polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats that help support optimal health and longevity. To better understand this complicated category of fats, let's take a look at unsaturated fatty acids from the ...

Most of our fat intake comes from three types of fatty acids: polyunsaturated, monounsaturated, and saturated. Each one has unique properties that interact with our bodies in different ways. Polyunsaturated fats, in particular, sparked the first investigations into how certain fats may be essential for optimal health, growth, and development. This led to the discovery of omega-6s, omega-3s, and what we now know as "essential fatty acids" —  which are all polyunsaturated fats. Despite the ...