Essential Fatty Acids

Everything that people eat has some food value and plays some kind of health role inside the body. We eat a wide variety of foods throughout the day, among which are those rich in protein to make us strong and healthy inside and out. Some foods are major sources of vitamins that are essential for fighting diseases and recovering quickly from injuries and sickness. Foods rich in fats and acids are essential for getting the energy necessary for us work and play hard. Different types of fats and fatty acids are found inside human body and the “essential” fatty acids are some of the most useful.

Essential fatty acids (or EFAs) refer to the group of fats or fatty acids that cannot be chemically constructed within the body of a human being or any other organism from other components. Essential fatty acids are obtained exclusively from their diets. There are two groups of essential fatty acids. The first are known as Omega -3 essential fatty acids, and the second are known as Omega -6 essential fatty acids. Fatty acids from both these group are very helpful for human body. Apart from working like fuels, the essential fatty acids from Omega 3 and Omega 6 are beneficial to human body in various ways. On one hand these essential fatty acids help in controlling the level of HDL and LDL cholesterol inside our body and on the other hand helps in preventing different types of deadly diseases.

Omega 3 and Omega 6 essential fatty acids were actually discovered as essential nutrients in the year 1923, and at that time were designated as Vitamin F. Later in the year 1930, Burr and Miller explained that it was better to classify these things as fats rather than vitamins. Over the next 20 years arachidonic and linolenic acids were also termed as essential fatty acids as they were found to also assist the growth of the body. It was during this time that detailed research concluded that the human body requires both Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids.

Fish and shellfish are the most common sources of both Omega 3 and Omega 6 essential fatty acids. Additional sources include soya oil, canola oil (rapeseed), leafy vegetables, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, hemp oil and flaxseed.

Please review other areas of Nutritionzing.com to understand more about your body, its nutrition requirements, and mechanisms to ensure a satisfied and healthy lifestyle through good diet.