What are essential fatty acids and their function?
Essential fatty acids or EFAs are fatty acids that cannot be synthesized by an organism from other compounds by any known chemical pathways and must therefore be obtained from an appropriate diet. The term refers to those fatty acids that are involved in biological processes and not those which only play a role as fuel.
There are two families of EFAs: Omega-3 and Omega-6. Fats from each of these families are essential as the body can convert one Omega-3 into another but cannot create them from scratch. Originally these were designated as Vitamin F until it was decided they were better classified with fats than with vitamins.
EFAs serve multiple functions and in each the balance between Omega-3 and Omega-6 strongly affects function. They affect inflammation and other cellular functions. They affect mood and behavior. They affect cellular signaling and act on DNA. EFAs play a part in many metabolic processes and there is evidence to suggest that low levels of essential fatty acids or the wrong balance of types among the EFAs may be a factor in a number of illnesses.
Major sources of Omega-3 and Omega-6 are fish, shellfish, flaxseed, hemp oil, soya oil, canola oil, chia seeds, pumplin seeds, sunflower seeds, leafy vegetables and walnuts.
What Are Vitamins ?
Minerals
Amino Acids ?