Catherine Saxelby's Foodwatch | Q. I’m confused. I know what polyunsaturated means on a label, but what’s mono-unsaturated?

Q. I’m confused. I know what polyunsaturated means on a label, but what’s mono-unsaturated?

A. Monounsaturated fats have only one double bond in their carbon chain (hence the term “mono”), while polyunsaturated have many of these bonds (“poly” means many).

This difference in their chemistry determines how they behave in the body and how they affect cholesterol levels. Both are healthy fats which help to reduce your risk of heart disease.

Monounsaturated fats can be found in oils like canola, olive, macadamia and peanut oils, as well as in avocadoes, almonds and peanut butter.