Essential Fatty Acids, also know as, EFA's.  These are fats that your body cannot manufacture and you most get them from the food you consume.  The two main types are Omega 3 EFA's and Omega 6 EFA's. 

Omega 3 EFA's are known to have anti-inflammatory properties and are considered a "good fat" that positively impacts diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, arthritis, Alzheimers, diabetes and more.   They are thought to help preserve bone health and help with mental function and clarity so they are important to menopausal women and children.  I personally notice and improvement in my skin complex and reduction in dry itchy skin when I take a quality Omega 3 supplement.    The best sources for obtaining Omega 3 EFA's are from fatty fish such as salmon, sardines, and albacore tuna.  It is recommended to eat these type of fish twice per week.  Pregnant women need to be careful though due to high mercury levels in some of these fish.  Other good sources are flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, canola oil, walnuts, and hempseed oil. 

Omega 6 EFA's are often labeled "bad fat" and favor inflammation.   However, it is an essentail fat that our body needs and the problem is not the fat it's self but the fact that we simply have to much of it in our diet.  We often get 10 times more Omega 6 then we do Omega 3.  The better balance would be a ratio of no more the 4:1 Omega 6 EFA to Omega 3 EFA's.  The reason for this imbalance is because or reliance on highly processed foods containing vegetable oils, corn fed animal products and the overabundance of soybean oil, hydrogenated, partially hydrogenated, and transfat.  PLEASE do not buy packaged foods with these last three things listed in the ingredients. 

I hope this helps you better understand the reason we need Omega 3's EFA's in our diet and could go into much more detail about specific benefits or supplementation but will save that for another time. 

Consider having some fish for dinner tonight!! 

Amy