Essential Fatty Acids - EFA's Omega 3 Omega 6 & Omega 9

There are four basic types of fat that the body takes from food: cholesterol, saturated fat, monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated essential fatty acids. The polyunsaturated essential fatty acids are the one's the body uses to build itself.

The essential fatty acids are called 'essential' fatty acids because they are necessary for life. The body cannot make EFA's for itself nor can it store them, so we need a regular supply in our food. Essential Fatty Acids are converted by the body into prostaglandins and other chemicals - all of which are needed constantly by most tissues in the body and for essential body processes. Many people are deficient in these valuable oils.

In addition to providing energy, Essential Fatty Acids are part of the structure of every cell in our bodies. We need them to achieve & maintain a healthy heart; but they are also essential for a healthy brain, for healthy function of other organs, eyes, skin, joints, hair & immune system.

In addition they have been shown to provide a natural sunscreen from the inside out, to help maintain & improve memory & mental function and to combat symptoms of depression.

Without enough polyunsaturated omega-3 oils, the body uses saturated fat to construct cell membranes. Such cell membranes are less elastic, which has a very negative effect organ function over all health & skin quality

A deficiency in the EFA's can lead to a wide range of disease symptoms. If the diet is deficient in either omega-6 or omega-3 long-term degenerative illnesses result. Most people consume far more omega 6 oils than omega-3's. However, because the end products of omega-6 to omega-3 metabolism are different we have to have a balance of both for optimum health.

Essential Fatty Acids are available in fish oils, Flax oil, Hemp Seed oil, Borage oil & Starflower oil. The most important Essential Fatty Acids are Omega 3 and Omega 6 both essential components of every cell membrane and of nerve cells. We need them both in our diet in the correct balance.

Omega 6 oils are found in grains, Hemp seed oil & Flax seed oil, most plant-based oils, poultry, and eggs.

Omega 3 oils are found in hemp seed, hemp Seed oil, flaxseed, flaxseed oil, walnuts & in fatty, cold water fish such as salmon, herring , sardines, halibut, bluefish, tuna, and mackerel. Venison and buffalo are also sources of omega-3s

Healthy and Essential produce a range of essential fatty acid preparations you can buy online. They say:"At 'Healthy and Essential' we believe passionately in the good fats (Omega-3 fatty acids) and we are proud to bring to you what we consider to be the worlds finest Omega-3 Fish and Flax oils; pure and gentle but incredibly effective." See more

How much do I need? A healthy diet containing significant amounts of foods rich in essential fatty acids is recommended. By using an oil such as hempseed oil, which has omega three and six in the optimum balance in your salad dressing you will naturally bring the ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids back into a healthier balance.

EFA's & Pregnancy: Pregnant women and infants need plenty of omega-3s to nourish the developing brain of the fetus and young child. If a pregnant woman gets too few omega-3s, the growing fetus will take all that's available. This could set the stage for depression in the mother. Talk to your obstetrician and pediatrician about specific requirements.

Interactions There are no known drug interactions associated with omega-3 fatty acids consumed as foods. Those taking blood-thinner such as warfarin or heparinomega should check with your doctor before taking omega 3 fish oil supplements

Beware Omega-3 fatty acids are safe to consume. However, since the sea is very polluted, and many toxic chemicals contaminants are stored in fatty tissue, fish consumption should be limited to two to three servings per week. Fish oil capsules present less risk. Plant sources even less.

Omega-3s were first recognised as beneficial to and human health in the 1970s. Studies showed the Inuit (Eskimo) people of Greenland, with a high fat diet of whale, seal, and salmon, suffered lower levels of coronary heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus, psoriasis than Europeans. Researchers realized that this was due to a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3s are used to treat type 2 diabetes, menstrual pain, have been shown to play a part in keeping cholesterol levels low, stabilizing irregular heart beat (arrhythmia), and reducing blood pressure.

Omega 3's help depression, memory loss, and other mental health problems. The brain is 60% fat and requires omega-3 EFA's to function properly. Researchers have now linked mood & mental function disorders with low concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids

Cancer: Omega 3's help ward off Cancer according to research from the University of California, Los Angeles, suggests that omega-3 fatty acids may help maintain healthy breast tissue and prevent breast cancer. Another recent study showed that dietary supplementation with EFA rich oils produced fewer quantities of a carcinogen associated with colon cancer. Research continues.

Researchers now believe that alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), one of the omega-3s, is particularly beneficial for protecting against heart and vessel disease, and for lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels. ALA is found in hempseed & flaxseed

Omega-3 essential fatty acids thinnersare also natural blood , reducing t platelet aggregation), which can lead to such complications as blood clots and stroke.

Studies of large groups of people have found that the more omega-3 fatty acids people consume, the lower their overall blood pressure level is. This was the case with the Greenland Eskimos who ate a lot of oily, cold-water fish, for example.

Diets high in omega-3 fatty acids (such as fish oils) have been shown to increase survival in people with autoimmune diseases. This is probably because the omega-3s helps the body stay inflammation free. EPA and DHA are successful at this because they can be converted into natural anti-inflammatory substances called prostaglandins and leukotrienes, compounds that help decrease inflammation and pain.

In numerous studies over the years, participants with inflammatory diseases have reported less joint stiffness, swelling, tenderness, and overall fatigue when taking omega-3s.

In 1998, an exciting review of well-designed, randomized clinical trials reported that omega-3 fatty acids were more successful than a placebo ("dummy drug") in improving the condition of people with rheumatoid arthritis. The research also showed that getting more omega-3 fatty acids enabled some participants to reduce their use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Omega-3s may help regulate mental health problems by enhancing the ability of brain-cell receptors to recieve mood-related signals from other neurons in the brain helping to keep the brain's functions, reactions, and reflexes running. Clinical trials are investigating if supplementing the diet with omega-3s will reduce the severity of psychiatric problems such as depression, dementia, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.