ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS
80% of Americans are deficient in the essential fatty acids!

The term essential fatty acids (EFAs), suggests that there are certain fatty acids essential to the body, and that is correct. Like other essential nutrients not produced in the body, EFAs must be ingested (consumed in our diets) if the body is to have access to them.

Those of us who live in North America have learned a great deal about the other important nutrients and the diligent among us are getting them into our nutrition program. But the two essential fatty acids - linoleic acid and linolenic acid - have been largely ignored by the food, food supplement, and vitamin companies, and are just now beginning to come into their own. (Note that some sources add arachidonic acid to the list of essential fatty acids, but most do not.) Interestingly enough, the essential fatty acids are two of the most important of all the essential elements, ranking right up there with protein, as protein and the EFAs work hand in hand with each other.

The Omega-3 oil (linolenic acid)
and Omega-6 oil (linoleic acid)

are two essential fatty acids that together:

- form the membrane of every one of the billions of cells in our bodies
- control the way cholesterol works in our systems
- make up a very large part of the brain’s active tissues
- are the only fats that become prostaglandins

Prostaglandins and the essential fatty acids play an important role in keeping the body in good working order, such as:

- producing steroids and synthesizing hormones
- regulating pressure in the eyes, joints, or blood vessels
- regulating response to pain, inflammation, and swelling
- mediating immune response
- regulating bodily secretions and their viscosity
- dilating or constricting blood vessels
- regulating collateral circulation
- directing endocrine hormones to their target cells
- regulating smooth muscle and autonomic reflexes
- being primary constituents of cellular membranes
- regulating the rate at which cells divide (mitosis)
- maintaining the fluidity and rigidity of cellular membranes
- regulating the in-flow and out-flux of substances into and out of the cells
- transporting oxygen from red blood cells to the tissues
- maintaining proper kidney function and fluid balance
- keeping saturated fats mobile in the blood stream
- regulating nerve transmission
- stimulating steroid production
- being the primary energy source for the muscle
- preventing blood cells from clumping together (conglomeration - the cause of atherosclerotic plaque and blood clots, a cause of stroke)
- mediating the release of pro-inflammatory substances from cells that may trigger allergic reactions

Health Conditions Which Exhibit Fatty Acid Deficiencies and Show Improvement with Appropriate Fatty Acid Supplementation

Acne AIDS Allergies Alzheimer’s Angina Angioplasty Atherosclerosis Arthritis Autoimmunity Behavior Disorders High Blood Pressure Breast Cancer Breast Cysts Breast Pain Cancer Cartilage Destruction Coronary Bypass Cystic Fibrosis Dementia Dermatitis

Diabetes Eczema E. Coli Infection Heart Disease Hyperactivity Hypertension Hypoxia Ichthyosis Immune Disorders Infant Nutrition Inflammatory Condition Intestinal Disorders Kidney Function Learning Leprosy Leukemia Lupus Malnutrition Mastalgia Menopause

Mental Illness Metastasis Multiple Sclerosis Myocardial Infarction Myopathy Neurological Disorders Obesity Osteoarthritis Post Viral Fatigue Pregnancy Psoriasis Refsums Syndrome Reyes Syndrome Rheumatoid Arthritis Schizophrenia Sepsis (Infection) Sjogren-Larson Syndrome Stroke Vascular Disease Vision

Source: Understanding Fats & Oils, by Dr. Michael T. Murray

Why Do We Need To Supplement With EFAs?
Surveys suggest that most Americans are obtaining in their diets only about 10% of the essential fatty acids they need for optimal health. There are three primary factors that contribute to our current essential fatty acid deficiency.
1. Unavailability of quality oils rich in essential fatty acids because of mass commercialization and refinement of fats and oils.
2. Transformation of healthful omega-3 and omega-6 oils into toxic compounds (hydrogenated and trans isomers) by processing.
3. Metabolic competition between hydrogenated and trans fatty acids (bad fats) with the essential fatty acids (good fats) in our diets.

Good Source of EFAs
Flaxseed oil is the world’s richest source of omega-3 fatty acids and has over two times the amount of omega-3 fatty acids than can be found in fish oils. Oil extracted from flaxseed is unique because it contains both essential fatty acids, omega-3 and omega-6.

The product that I recommend uses independently certified organically grown ingredients to ensure the highest quality, most potent product available.

A low temperature (96 degrees Fahrenheit) expeller press method of extraction is used by this company. Many other methods of oil extraction lead to the destruction and breakdown of the polyunsaturated oils and the nutrient cofactors they contain.

The essential fatty acids rich oils are protected by hermetically sealed, carob coated softgel capsules that block light damage, protect against oxygen damage, and keep the oils from going rancid.

The product I recommend has a 5:1 ratio combination of flaxseed oil and borage oil to yield nature’s perfect balance of essential fatty acids. The most potent concentration of another vital fatty acid, gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), comes in the form of borage seed oil.

Each 1000 mg softgel capsule contains the following key ingredients:

100% Certified Organic Flax Seed Oil (830 mg) 100% Certified Organic Borage Oil (170 mg)

Each capsule provides: Omega-3 (LNA, 445 mg), Omega-6 (LA, 200 mg), Omega-9 (oleic, 165 mg), and Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA, 40 mg).

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EFA's (essential fatty acids)(60 capsules) (1 month supply)
Retail cost $24.95
Member cost $15.95

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