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Omega Oils-EF As

Briefly, two basic categories of EF As that you need to know:

First, Omega-3 includes alpha-linolenic acid (LNA) found in meat, fish, fish oil, and certain superunsaturated vegetable oils such as canola, olive and particularly flaxseed oil.

Next, Omega-6 includes linoleic (LA) and gama-linolenic (GLA) acids found in raw nuts, seeds, legumes, sesame and soybean oil and especially safflower oil. Hemp oil is a first rate source of both Omega 3 and Omega 6 EF As. More and more research is being done on conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA, a natural derivative of LA, which is revealing fat reducing-muscle building qualities. The magic bullet?

These oils are sensitive to heat, light and oxygen and extreme care is required in maintaining their wholeness and activity. Though they are available in our diets, as are all essential nutrients, because of their instability and because of their vital importance, it's highly recommended that they be added as a supplement. Some people mix the oils in protein drinks or salad dressing. Best is to gulp down a smart blend of flax seed, fish and olive oils twice a day to assure a healthy ratio of all the EF As available which splendidly direct the show. These also come in capsules.

Not long ago it was thought that flax oil was the way to go, but recently the tide has turned to the importance of fish oil because most of us get enough of the Omega-6s from foods and oils such as olive oil. Not too many of us eat enough fatty fish to provide optimum health.

Dave's going to give you an overview of essential fatty acids so you know what we're talking about.

The first of our EFA conversations is archived here and will bring you past tthe beginner's knowledge.

Then we start getting more serious about it. First, we discover everything you need to know about flax, how to buy it, store it, grind it, use it.

We're now beginning to understand the many ways fish oil can keep us healthy and free of serious disease. Here's a collection of articles from the NOW Foods site covering studies on the benefits of fish oil.

• Here's an essential fatty acid chart that breaks down the EFA content of specific foods.

• Fish oil in the news