Sunday 11th November - We Need Good Fats

There is clear evidence from recent research that there is a direct benefit for our health to consume "good fats" from natural food sources. Modern science has discovered that essential fatty acids (EFAs) do indeed profoundly influence human health and as we can't produce these in the body we need to source them externally.

As we move away from the fat phobia of the 90's that so affected our lives and we now move toward influencing our health through more informed choice, it is starting to resonate on most people's personal radar to embrace this beneficial nutrient of Omega 3 fatty acids that provide the following.

Eicosapentaenoic Acid and Docosahexaenoic Acid (EPA and DHA), these two difficult to pronounce fatty acids are responsible for the beneficial effects of Fish Oils. These good fats provide us with not only an energy source but also assist to protect our hearts. Even everyday foods such as bread and cereals are now having these fats added which is a good thing.

My personal favorite is Salmon and I try to consume it two to three times per week as it is a great source of Omega 3 fatty acids. We know that EFAs control or modulate an amazing number of cellular processes and each EFA plays a specific role in the body from assisting to combat heart disease and improve brain functioning plus assisting other health conditions.

If you still find eating "fat" a personal issue then look for quality supplementation. Daily intake for individuals can vary to the individual from about 300mg to 400mg of these EFA's and most commercial products that I have found seem to be a blended oil product that combines a balance of these essential fats in one 1000mg convenient capsule which provides the following ratio of 180mg EPA and 120mg of DHA = Total of 300mg EFA's.

There are a number of natural sources of essential fats including several plants and some species of fish such as salmon, mackeral and tuna. Oils from these sources are often used for dietary supplementation. Natural sources of essential fats include Evening Primrose, Black Currant, Flaxseed and cold water Fish. Fish Oil is prepared mainly from salmon, cod liver, and tuna.