What Are Essential Fatty Acids?

Essential fatty acids or EFA refer to fatty acids that are required in the human diet. They cannot be produced by the body internally. So it must be obtained from the food. Omega 3 and Omega 6 are closely related to EFA. They were actually called as Vitamin F at the time of their discovery as essential nutrients in 1923. Then they were better classified with the fats than with the vitamins.

Essential fatty acids perform many functions. They affect the cellular functions, mood, behavior, inflammation and cellular signaling. The food sources for omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids are fish, shellfish, flaxseed , Soya oil , canola oil , hemp oil , chia seeds , pumpkin seeds , sunflower seeds , vegetable leaves and walnuts.

Essential fatty acids are important in metabolic processes. The low levels of these acids or the wrong balance among the types of essential fatty acids are important factors for various illnesses.

More Glossary Terms Explained here

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