Essential and Nonessential fatty acids are vital for physical and mental wellbeing. Essential fatty acids cannot be created by the body whereas nonessential fatty acids can be created by a healthy body if it is supplied with the right ingredients. EPA and DHA are two nonessential omega 3 fatty acids in that the body can manufacture these two fatty acids whereas ALA is an essential fatty acid which the body cannot manufacture but which it uses to create EPA and DHA.
These essential and nonessential fatty acids are important for proper brain development and function and a deficiency in these fatty acids may contribute towards attention deficit, depression and various other mental disorders. Children who have received supplements of these essential and nonessential fatty acids are also more likely to have higher IQ's than children who do not receive supplements of these fatty acids.
Another function of these essential and nonessential fatty acids is to contribute to a healthy heart. These omega 3 fatty acids are known to reduce the risk of heart disease, lower bad cholesterol and triglyceride levels and prevent the build up of plaque and clots which contribute to heart attacks.
Essential and nonessential fatty acids are also a good anti-inflammatory and so are useful for diseases such as arthritis, psoriasis and other inflammatory disorders. They help by blocking the substances which are responsible for causing inflammation.
EPA and DHA, the two nonessential fatty acids, are usually the more active fatty acids and provide more benefits than ALA by itself. Although ALA will usually break down into EPA and DHA there are certain situations where this will not occur, for example, diabetics are not able to break down ALA into EPA and DHA and so will need to get separate supplements of EPA and DHA to supply their requirements of these fatty acids.
Omega 3 essential and nonessential fatty acids can be found in fatty fish and fish oil supplements, flax seeds and flax seed oil supplements, walnuts, and dark green, leafy vegetables. In order to receive enough of these fatty acids it is usually necessary to supplement using either the fish oil or flax seed oil supplements but one should also try to ensure a diet high in the food sources of essential and nonessential fatty acids.
Essential and nonessential fatty acids are both vital for proper physical and mental wellbeing such as a healthy heart, healthy brain and reducing inflammation. Usually a healthy body is able to break the essential fatty acids down into the nonessential fatty acids, however there are cases, for example in the case of diabetics, where the body is unable to do this and other sources of the nonessential fatty acids are required. Essential and nonessential fatty acids can be obtained through fatty fish and fish oil supplements, flax seeds and flax seed oil supplements as well as through walnuts and dark green, leafy vegetables. In order to ensure optimal physical and mental wellbeing you should ensure a healthy diet rich in these foods as well as supplementation of omega fatty acids.
Glossary:
Essential fatty acids: Fatty acids necessary for physical and mental wellbeing which the body is not able to produce
Nonessential fatty acids: Fatty acids necessary for physical and mental wellbeing which the body is able to produce
Triglyceride: level of fats in the blood