Over the last several years, the popularity and consumer awareness of essential fatty acids has been on an exponential increase.
Previously, consumers had been taught to shun all fats, making no distinction between “bad” fats or “good” fats. The research emerging on the benefits of “good” fats, however, proved to be too extensive for health professionals and the media to ignore. Now a growing percentage of consumers are taking the step of supplementing their diets with these vital nutrients.
Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are indeed essential. They are needed for maintaining cell wall and membrane structure, energy and hormone production and normal functioning of the brain, nerves and eyes. Further, studies show that EFAs help us deal with such serious health issues as heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and mental disorders.1 The most important fatty acids are ALA (alpha linolenic acid), GLA (gamma linolenic acid), and Omega-3 fatty acids (including EPA and DHA).
With the increasing popularity of EFAs, the choices for consumers have also become more difficult. The “wall of supplements” at your local health food store often has an over-abundance of choices. How can you choose the right EFA for you?
•Multi-EFAs: A good place to start
The best place to start when choosing an EFA supplement is to consider your own health needs. If you are a generally healthy individual, without any major health concerns and just wanting to take an EFA supplement for daily insurance, then a multi-EFA may be the best choice for you.
Selecting a multi-EFA supplement is the most convenient way to get the essential fats needed for everyday health. A multi-EFA is to good
fats what a multi-vitamin is to vitamin supplementation. And like a multi-vitamin, a multi-EFA should be taken everyday. Look for a multi-EFA that contains a full spectrum of omega 3, omega 6 and omega 9 fatty acids. The oils used to get a complete blend of EFAs are most commonly sourced from a combination of the plants borage and flax, and fish found in deep, cold waters.
With certain health issues, you might consider a more specific single EFA or even rotating use of that single EFA together with a multi-EFA. The single EFA supplements and their key uses include:
•Fish oil supplements: Heart health, joint health and brain health.
•GLA supplements (borage oil or evening primrose oil): PMS symptoms, skin health, diabetic neuropathy, and joint health.
•ALA and lignan supplements (flax seed oil): Heart health, digestive health and some PMS symptoms. Flax seed oil should also be considered
by those who do not tolerate or eat fish, as ALA is converted in the body to EPA and DHA omega-3’s.
1. Gittleman, Anne Louise “Get your healthy fats the easy way.” March 2001.
www.fatsforhealth.com
