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Essential Fatty Acids
What are Essential Fatty Acids and why are they essential?
Fatty acids are the basic building blocks of fats. Two specific fatty acids are considered 'essential' because they are necessary to people, but cannot be made by the body; thus must be supplied through the food we eat or through supplementation. The other fatty acids manufactured by the body are important, although not regarded strictly as 'essential' because a healthy body with a good diet can manufacture them. The two truly essential fatty acids are Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA), an Omega-3 fatty acid, and Linoleic Acid (LA), an Omega-6 fatty acid.
Polyunsaturated fatty acids are the 'good' fats necessary for healthy body functions and are typically found in vegetable oils. Chemically speaking, these fatty acids are not 'saturated' with hydrogen molecules and contain more than one double bond. They are divided into families depending on where their end-most double bond is located. There are two main subtypes of essential fatty acids: the Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. The Omega-3's are those with their end-most double bond 3 carbons from the Omega end. The Omega-6's are those with their end-most double bond 6 carbons from the Omega end. Omega-9 fatty acids exist, but the body can freely manufacture these from Omega-3s and Omega-6s.
Essential Fatty Acids are intricately involved in maintaining cellular health. They are considered the 'gate keepers', bringing important nutrients into the cell and keeping toxins out. Essential Fatty Acids produce hormone-like compounds that support healthy inflammatory response and help keep blood vessels dilated.
Related Articles
Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Benefit Brain Health - Most people have heard the studies about the potential cardiac benefits of consuming omega-3 fatty acids, now two independently conducted studies published in the November issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition have found that omega-3 fatty acids may also be good for the brain.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Provide Retina Protection - A new study published in the journal Nature Medicine adds to the growing body of evidence that a diet rich in the omega 3 fatty acids may provide protection against the development of, and slow the progression of, some forms of retinopathy.
Omega-3 Helps With Diabetes and Blood Pressure - Two recent studies have found that Omega-3 fatty acids may have two distinctly different uses. The first study was conducted in Norway, and found beneficial results in type II diabetes patients with a high intake of omega-3 fish oil. In the second unrelated study, which was published in the Journal of Nutrition, British researchers found that low levels of omega-3 fatty acids lowered blood pressure.
Omega-3, Vitamin E, Fiber, Beta-Carotene Reduce Lymphoma Risk - A new study conducted by an international group of researchers has found that a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, fiber and beta-carotene may offer significant protection against Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.
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