Essential Fatty Acids

Introduction

Fat.  People cringe when they hear the word … at least people that are interested in a better diet and better health.  However, when it comes to dietary supplements, there are benefits to be found in something called essential fatty acids.  Through this article, you will be provided with an overview of essential fatty acids and how these types of dietary supplements can be beneficial to you.

What are Essential Fatty Acids?  Understanding Dietary Supplements …

What are essential fatty acids?  Essential fatty acids are the good fats that we hear so much about today.  A lot of emphasis is placed today on good fats and bad fats and how important it is to minimize the intake of trans fats and cholesterol, which is animal fat, while at the same time taking enough of the good fats.  Good fats raise your HDL, which is the good cholesterol and bad fats raise your LDL, or your bad cholesterol.

Essential Fatty Acids -- Through Your Diet and Through Dietary Supplements

These essential fatty acids are necessary because the body cannot make them and they must be obtained through the diet.

Two Types of Essential Fatty Acids

There are two families of essential fatty acids.  The first is Omega-3 and Omega-6, fatty acids.  Omega-3 fatty acids are derived from Linolenic Acid and Omega-6 from Linoleic Acid.  The second family is Omega-9 and is necessary but non-essential because the body can manufacture some of this on its own.  Omega-9 comes from Oleic Acid.

What Essential Fatty Acids Can do for You

Together these essential fatty acids support the immune, reproductive, cardiovascular and nervous systems of the body.  They are also needed to repair cells so that they can receive nutrition and discard wastes. Additionally they help regulate the heart rate, blood pressure, blood clotting, fertility, and conception and assist the immune system, which helps to fight infection.  Human growth is also affected by the essential fatty acids in the body.

Foods that are Rich in Essential Fatty Acids

Foods rich in essential fatty acids include; flaxseeds, flaxseed meal, hempseed oil, hempseeds, grapeseed oil, pine nuts, pistachio nuts, raw sunflower seeds, olive oil, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, brazil nuts, avocados, cold-pressed and unrefined canola oil, soybean oil, wheat germ oil, salmon, mackerel, sardines, anchovies, albacore tuna and some dark leafy vegetables like kale, spinach, purslane, mustard greens, and collards.

Essential Fatty Acids and Your Metabolic Processes

Essential fatty acids play a major role in many metabolic processes and the studies show that low levels of essential fatty acids or the improper balance of the types of essential fatty acids may be a factor in a number of illnesses.