Polyunsaturated Fat

One of the three categories of fatty acids that also includes saturated fats and monounsaturated fats. Primarily derived from plants, polyunsaturated fat is considered to be one of the healthier varieties of fats. Polyunsaturated fat helps to lower the overall cholesterol level, but it also reduces HDL or good cholesterol. The main sources of polyunsaturated fats are seeds, nuts, grains, vegetables, cooking oils, and fish. Oils such as corn, grapeseed, safflower, and sunflower are good sources of polyunsaturated fat. Fish species such as herring, salmon, sardines, and trout contain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and are alos considered a good source of this fat. Safflower oil has the highest percentage of polyunsaturated fat of any edible oil.