Essential fatty acids
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Essential fatty acids
Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are a type of fat that is needed to support and regulate important body functions in the cardiovascular, reproductive, immune, and nervous systems. EFAs can only be obtained from food sources.
The two types of EFAs are:
- Omega-3 fatty acids. Good sources include walnuts and walnut oil, flaxseeds and flaxseed oil, hempseeds and hempseed oil, canola oil, soybean oil, and cold-water fish.
- Omega-6 fatty acids. Good sources include sesame seeds and sesame oil, safflower oil, soybean oil, corn oil, and sunflower oil.
You can greatly increase your omega 3s by eating fish 2 to 3 times a week.
Credits
| Author | Jeannette Curtis |
| Author | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman, MATC |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Last Updated | May 25, 2007 |
| Last updated: | May 25, 2007 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS |
| Reviewed By: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC |
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