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Polyunsaturated Fats

By Jennifer Moll, About.com

Updated: September 25, 2008

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Definition: Polyunsaturated fats are a type of fat mostly found in fish and grains. This type of fats differs from other fats structurally in that it contains more than one double bond between carbon atoms and is liquid at room temperature.

Polyunsaturated fats are also known as “healthy fats” since they help lower LDL cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol.

Also Known As: polyunsaturated fatty acids
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