Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids is another crucial supplement in the fight against aging.

Contrary to belief our body needs fat – it just needs to be the right kind; the kind that is derived from essential fatty acids (EFA), namely Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids.

Omega 3 essential fatty acids including alpha-linolenic and eicosapentaenoic acid can be found in fish, flaxseed and walnut oils.

Omega 6 essential fatty acids including linoleic and gamma-linolenic acids can be found in primrose, grape seed, borage and sesame oil.

Our body cannot make EFA, it needs to come from our diet. Unfortunately modern day diet consists of little or non existent Omega 3 and Omega 6; we consume perhaps one sixth of Omega 3 than our ancestors did a century ago and an estimated three quarters of the population are deficient in EFAs.

So why is Omega 3 essential fatty acids so important? And what do Omega 3 and Omega 6 EFAs do for our anti aging health?

6 benefits of EFAs:

1. Helps in building cell membranes which means better and younger looking skin, and more luscious and healthy hair. It has also been known to help more serious skin conditions such eczema and psoriasis.
2. Helps maintains healthy brain tissues and is essential for proper brain function. A deficiency has shown an impaired ability to learn and to remember and a greater likelihood of getting degenerative brain diseases.
3. Ensures good cardiovascular health. Your heart will thank you for taking EFAs as it prevents plaques from forming in the arteries which could lead to sorts of heart problems.
4. Lowers blood pressure which means your heart will not have to work as hard to pump blood to your body tissues.
5. Lowers cholesterol and triglyceride levels which means less deposits and plaque build up in the arteries that would impede blood flow to areas such as the brain, kidneys and heart.
6. Improves sexual health and balances hormones in women especially during menopause and for those suffering from PMS. Primrose oil is especially recommended.

You can buy EFA in oil form such as Udo’s Choice Oil Blend 32-Ounces, but remember that it should never be heated. Heating EFA oils could be dangerous to your health as it can transform into dangerous free radicals, which is also why many food processing companies remove these oils from their foods and use trans fat and other unhealthy oils instead. Alternatively you can choose a supplement such as Complete Omega 3.6.9 (Lemon) by Nordic Naturals – 180 Softgels for your daily dose of Omega 6 and Omega 3 essential fatty acids.

Natural sources of Omega 3 and Omega 6 EFAs include :

• Deep sea fishes such as salmon, mackerel (considered a superfish for Omega 3), trout, tuna (light tuna has significantly less Omega 3).
• Plant based oils such as flaxseed, primrose, borage, walnut, sesame, soybean, canola and grape seed oil.
• Emu oil has a great amount of Omega 6.

Add these oils regularly to salads, soups or make dips from them and enjoy better health!

Related articles for Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids:

• Fish oil slows burn of genetic fuse in ageing, say scientists (guardian.co.uk)