What Are PUFAs (Polyunsaturated Fats)?

food pufas

You might have seen me talk about PUFAs before, but what the heck are they?
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There are three different kinds of fats and in their molecular structure: ❎Saturated fats have NO double bonds between carbon atoms, making them the most stable
➕Monounsaturated fats have one (mono) double bond making them less stable
➕➕Polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) have more than one (poly) double bond, making them the least stable
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PUFAs are what you’ve grown up eating. They include industrial seed and vegetable oils like canola, safflower, cottonseed, rapeseed, grapeseed, palm kernel seed and corn. They also include “healthy” oils like fish, flax and hemp, as well as margarines.
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In the 1950s Ancel Keys unveiled his biased, money and personal ambition-driven Diet-Heart hypothesis that blamed saturated fat for heart disease. In 1955 President Eisenhower had a heart attack and the whole world started eating less fat and only the “heart-healthy” kind (PUFAs).
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"The rush to banish animal fats from our diets has exposed us to the health risks of trans fats and oxidizing vegetable oils.” - Nina Tiecholz, The Big Fat Surprise
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PUFAs go rancid when exposed to light, heat and/or oxygen. They create oxidative stress and free radicals, and in excess can be drivers of disease.
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They also lack fat-soluble vitamins like REAL Vitamin A (retinol), K and D, which we need for a healthy metabolism and to create energy. It’s no wonder only 88% of us are metabolically UNhealthy and we’re all chronically fatigued...we can’t create energy!
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Did you know the body is more likely to store PUFAs v saturated fat?
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IMO, the introduction of more PUFAs into our diets is one of the biggest reasons - if not the biggest reason - we’re all more sick, tired and fat than ever today.
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Just look at MOTHER NATURE: mammalian milk contains 50% saturated fat and 15% polyunsaturated fat. Yet most of the fat in our diet is PUFA.
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If we can swap crappy oils for more ancestral saturated fats that are stable, do not oxidize and have been consumed for FOREVER, we can begin to push our body towards STABILITY and health.
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I challenge you to take a look in your pantry and start chucking!

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This is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare professional before pursuing any changes to your personal healthcare regime.

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References

Azrad, M. Turgeon, C. Denmark-Wahnefried, W. (2013). Current evidence linking polyunsaturated Fatty acids with cancer risk and progression. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24027672.

Functional Performance Systems. (2012). Ray Peat, PhD on Low Blood Sugar & Stress Reaction. Retrieved from: https://www.functionalps.com/blog/2012/11/26/ray-peat-phd-on-low-blood-sugar-stress-reaction/.

German, J.B. Dillard, C.J. (2010). Saturated Fats: A Perspective from Lactation and Milk Composition. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2950926/.

Peat, R. (2007). Suitable Fats, Unsuitable Fats: Issues in Nutrition. Retrieved from: https://raypeat.com/articles/articles/unsuitablefats.shtml.

Peat, R. (2009). Fats and degeneration. Retrieved from: https://raypeat.com/articles/articles/fats-degeneration3.shtml.

Peat, R. (2011). Milk in context: allergies, ecology, and some myths. Retrieved from: http://raypeat.com/articles/articles/milk.shtml.

Tiecholz, N. (2014). The Big Fat Surprise: Why Butter, Meat & Cheese Belong in a Healthy Diet. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks.

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. (2018). Only 12 percent of American adults are metabolically healthy, study finds. Retrieved from: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181128115045.htm.

Weinberg, S.L. (2003). The diet-heart hypothesis: a critique. Retrieved from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0735109703016310.

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Remember: this post is for informational purposes only and may not be the best fit for you and your personal situation. It shall not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. Always check with your own physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here. While the owner of this website tries to keep the information up to date, there may be things that are out-of-date and out of their control.