EFA ( essential fatty acids ) Essential Fatty Acids

EFA ( essential fatty acids ), essential fatty acids, are critical to your health. These fats are only available to us through dietary sources. The body is unable to manufacture them. We commonly know these by there more common names, Omega-3, Omega-6, and Omega-9 fatty acids. Essential fatty acids keep our cardio-vascular system in good health, our brain functioning properly, and our immune system working properly. It is important to get enough of these essential fatty acids in our diet.

Essential fatty acids are required for proper functioning of the cardio-vascular system. Our bodies require proper levels of these chemicals in order to manufacture leukotrienes, prostaglandins, and thromboxanes, (hormone-type chemicals known as eicosanoids). Blood pressure, blood viscosity, and the transmission of oxygen to cells are all dependent on the body's ability to produce eiconsanoids. This does not happen effectively when essential fatty acids are lacking in the diet.

EFA ( essential fatty acids )s keep cells functioning properly. They are essential for maintaining proper cell structure. This helps our brain and nervous system functioning properly as weak or deformed cells cannot transmit information properly throughout the nervous system.

Our immune system depends on having enough EFA ( essential fatty acids ), or essential fatty acid intake. They are responsible for transmitting oxygen to cells. Many virus and bacteria are unable to survive or multiply in an oxygen rich environment. By adding EFA ( essential fatty acids )s to your diet, you help keep the cells membranes functioning properly and therefore keep your immune system running at peak performance.

As we can see from the above information, it is imperative that our diet include enough of the essential fatty acids, Omega-3, Omega-6, and Omega-9. You can get these EFA ( essential fatty acids )s from a variety of foods. Cold-water fish such as salmon are a great source for all three of these chemicals. Olive oil, whole grains and nuts (walnuts in particular) are a great source of Omega-6. Just adding a handful of walnuts as a snack, eating salmon once a week and cooking with olive oil or walnut oil will help ensure that you are getting enough of these EFA ( essential fatty acids ) EFA ( essential fatty acids ). Other things you can do to be sure to have enough intake of EFA ( essential fatty acids ), is to take a daily supplement. There are supplements that include all three of the Omegas. Most people get enough Omega-6 in their diet as it is so readily available in vegetable oil, however, you should look to supplement Omega-3 and Omega-9, as these are more difficult to come by in our diet.