Are All Polyunsaturated Fats Created Equal?

Nutrition
1

I’ve read that polyunsaturated fats lower testosterone whereas you want to eat foods higher in saturated and monounsaturated fats.

I’m wondering if the polyunsaturated fats that occur in sunflower seeds and walnuts are the same exact polyunsaturated fat as those in vegetable oils?

I’ve read that there are many types of saturated fats: stearic acid, palmitic acid and lauric acid, etc. as well as different types of trans fats (trans vaccenic acid being the ‘healthy’ trans fat).

2

You might find this useful reading:

3

[quote]ActivitiesGuy wrote:
You might find this useful reading:

With the exception of walnut oil, those oils are all LOW or VERY LOW in omega-6s and polynsaturated in general. Olive oil may have like 3 grams per tbs. Red palm 1.5. Macadamia less than 1. So the key to those oils is that they are either primarily MONOunsaturated, or saturated.

As for polyunsaturated, well, not REALLY. Omega 6 needs to be kept down for optimal long term health. You are going to get 5-10 grams a day pretty much whatever you do. Adding one TBS of sunflower or most bad oils are giving you 6-7. There are exceptions like high oleic (monounsaturated) sunflower, and also canola.

But to answer the question, from everything I have read I would say NO. Adding omega-6 from any source is equally bad. Walnuts though have some omega-3s so they offset a little. The best case is low PUFA’s. The second is to at least get some omega-3s if you can’t get low PUFA’s in total.

4

Thanks, that answers an earlier question I had. I don’t eat anything processed, I use no cooking oils besides red palm, coconut oil, and evoo, and not even every day. I still get about 15g of polyunsaturated fats. If I have an ounce of walnuts that day I’ll get close to 20. about 14g from omega 6 and 6g from omega 3s.