Monounsaturated fat

A fatty acid carbon chain, with one double bond taking the place of one hydrogen atom. Many scientists believe that monounsaturated fats can lower the level of cholesterol in the blood. While they may decrease the amount of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, they do not have any affect on reducing the high-density lipoprotein (HDL). The most common examples are olive oil, peanut oil, and cottonseed oil. The American Heart Association recommends that 10 to 15 percent of total calorie intake per day be monounsaturated fatty acids.