Essential Fatty Acids Weight Loss Diet Nutrition Tips Guide

Essential Fatty Acids For A Healthy Lifestyle

By Tracy Kerr-Walshe

Feeling lost when the topic shifts to essential fatty acids? Are "Omega-3" and "Omega-6" Greek to you? If so, then it’s important that you take a moment to read up on these dietary requirements and ensure that you’re getting everything you need for optimal performance. It may be easier than you think!

The first category of fatty acids is called Linoleic Acid (LA), which falls into the poly-unsaturated category. The second is called Alpha Linolenic Acid (LNA), also from the poly-unsaturated category but sometimes referred to as "super-unsaturated" because of its extremely low melting point.

LA and LNA facilitate the production of other naturally produced fatty acids, so they’re really important supplements to get the body energized. Additionally, growing processes and mental functions are improved as the fatty acids act as transporters of oxygen, electrons and energy in and out of cells.

Helps To Transport Bad Cholesterol Out Of Your Body System

With these acids, hemoglobin production is stimulated and nutrients pass along cell membranes effortlessly. Digestive functions are improved and chronic heartburn becomes a thing of the past. The recovery time from fatigue is shortened and the damage from saturated fats is reduced, since these fatty acids helps to disperse and transport the bad cholesterol out of the system.

How does one know if he or she is suffering from a deficiency of Linoleic Acid? Symptoms include Eczema-like skin conditions, loss of hair, behavioral outbursts, liver and kidney degeneration, excessive thirst and sweating, arthritis, reproductive failure and increased healing time for wounds or infections.

Linoleic Acid Deficiency

Essential fatty acids like Linoleic Acid can be found in the "Omega-6" family: vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains and seeds. Other good sources include safflower, sunflower, corn, primrose, pumpkin, wheat germ and soya oils.

Doctors have used Omega-6 / LNA essential fatty acids to reduce inflammation, treat menstrual disorders, improve skin conditions (like acne or psoriasis) and rejuvenate hair follicles. Telltale signs of Linolenic Acid deficiency are: weakness, impaired vision or learning ability, poor motor skills, tingling in the arms and legs, behavioral outbursts and poor growth.

Linolenic Acid

Essential fatty acids like Linolenic Acid can be found in the "Omega-3" family: mustard seeds, pumpkin seeds, soya bean, walnut oil, green leafy vegetables, grains, spirulina, fish, canola oil and flaxseed oil. UK research shows that children given essential fatty acids (notably the Omega-3’s) scored higher on reading tests, had generally better behavior and less incidences of ADD.

Omega-3 treatment has been used by doctors to naturally treat Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, depression, inflammation, arthritis and autoimmune disorders. Harvard University research has also been shown to help with high blood pressure, cholesterol and in cancer prevention.

Need 50 Essential Elements For Perfect Health

To be perfectly healthy, we need roughly 50 essential elements, including the two aforementioned fatty acids. The daily requirements for essential fatty acids include just 1 tablespoon of LA and 1-2 teaspoons of LNA.

If more saturated fats are taken in, the requirements for LA and LNA increase (think 3-6% of total calorie intake here). One serving of fish or nuts usually contain enough of these acids to improve health and bodily functions. To make things even easier, a fish oil supplement contains both the Omega 3 and 6, that one needs each day.

Sources Of Fatty Acids For Vegetarians

For vegetarians, good sources of fatty acids include: soy milk, cereals rich in Vitamin D and B12, whole grain breads and leafy green vegetables. It’s important, however, that the vegan or vegetarian combine their vegetable intake with iron (pulses, tofu, nuts), calcium (legumes, cashews, almonds) and B12 (wheat germ, yeast extract, avocados).

In order to work, these acids need vitamins (A, B3, B6, C, E) and minerals (Magnesium, Zinc) to perform. Roughly two-thirds of the people living in industrialized nations die prematurely from degenerative diseases involving fats. Sixty-eight percent of those deaths are caused by cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes.

Studies from Japan found that an improper balance in Omega-6 and Omega-3 essential fatty acids, is directly linked to behavioral patterns, degeneration and life-threatening diseases. While much of the average diet contains Omega-6, it’s recommended that people review their options and increase their intake of Omega-3 with flaxseed, fish or seal oil.

Please Note: All information given on this site is for general information purposes and is not to replace any medical opinion or medical diagnosis given by a qualified medical doctor, a dietitian/nutritional expert or any other medical expert, as individual circumstances may vary. Please see your medical doctor, before any action is taken to alleviate symptoms.

This Article was about Essential Fatty Acids.

About the Author:
Tracy Kerr-Walshe is an author of articles on nutrition, healthy food, diet and weight loss including Protein Diets, Organic Foods, Healthy Snacks, Effective Weight Loss, Full Body Detox, Juice Fasting.
Keep a lookout for more of her articles coming soon.