Essential Fatty Acids

Essential Fatty Acids or EFA's are nutrients that humans and animals must get from dietary sources because they cannot be produced by the body. For humans, the two essential fatty acids required for health and well-being are ALA or omega 3 fatty acids and linoleic acid or omega 6 fatty acids.

Essential fatty acids are abundantly available from various dietary sources including fish and natural nuts and oils but our modern diets do not provide the essential fatty acids in the proportions we need to maintain health and well-being.

The way the body uses essential acids is complex. We produce DHA and EPA from the fatty acids we eat, but the amounts that we can produce is determined by the proportions of omega 6 fatty acids to omega 3 fatty acids within the body. Our modern diets are too high in omega 6 and too low in omega 3. This imbalance in the body means that we cannot produce fatty acids in the quantities we need to stay healthy. We also need sufficient quantities of vitamin B3, B6, C, magnesium, and zinc if the body has to manufacture its own EPA and DHA.

Because of the complex nature of fatty acids, and the extra ingredients required by the body, it is therefore a good idea to invest in a good essential fatty acid supplement. A good supplement will ensure you get the right proportions of omega 3 and omega 6 and will ensure that you have the other building blocks needed to produce EPA and DHA, to keep the body healthy.