Essential Fats

Essential fats and fatty acids are extremely important for health and vitality. Essential fat deficiencies are correlated with degenerative diseases including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, skin afflictions, dry skin, premenstrual syndrome, behavioral problems, poor wound healing, arthritis, glandular atrophy, weakened immune functions and sterility (especially in males). (Udo Erasmus Ph.D., Fats that Heal, Fats that Kill)
Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary (17th edition) says the following about essential fatty acids: "The unsaturated fatty acids cannot be synthesized in the body and have been considered to be essential to maintain health."
Two absolutely essential fatty acids are alpha linolenic acid (omega-3) and linoleic acid (omega-6). These essential fatty acids must be provided in the diet.
Mary G. English, Ph.D., speaks of conditionally essential fats in her book, Know Your Fats. "The conditionally essential fatty acids include gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). All four of these fatty acids can be made by cells in the body, but there are a number of interfering food substances, illnesses or genetic inadequacies that make these fatty acids become dietary essential for some." Over the years of counseling people whose systems or intestinal tracts have been damaged by repeated use of antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals, I have come to the conclusion the these people might have trouble synthesizing the conditionally essential fatty acids and that It is not an issue for the rest of us. So, in case you needed it, this is one of many good reasons to avoid pharmaceuticals.
"Every living cell in the body needs essential fatty acids. They are essential for rebuilding and producing new cells. Essential fatty acids are also used by the body for the production of prostaglandins, hormone-like substances that act as chemical messengers and regulators of various body processes" (Balch and Balch pg. 68).
The Medline Medical Database (1999) a review of 1757 peer-reviewed articles, lists afflictions associated with a deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids (while an omega-3 deficiency may not be the cause of the following afflictions, it has been shown to be a contributing factor). These include acne, AIDS, allergies, Alzheimer's, angina, atherosclerosis, arthritis, autoimmunity, behavioral disorders, breast cancer, breast cysts, breast pain, cancer, dementia, diabetes, eczema, heart disease, high blood pressure, hyperactivity, infection, immune deficiencies, inflammatory conditions, intestinal disorders, kidney disease, learning disorders, leukemia, lupus, malnutrition, menopause, mental illness, metastasis, multiple sclerosis, neurological disease, obesity, post viral fatigue, psoriasis, Reyes syndrome, schizophrenia, stroke, and vision disorders.
Essential fatty acids (EFAs) have desirable effects on many disorders. They improve the skin and hair, reduce blood pressure, aid in the prevention of arthritis, lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and reduce the risk of blood clot formation. They are beneficial for candidiasis, cardiovascular disease, eczema and psoriasis and are found in high concentrations in the brain. EFAs aid in the transmission of nerve impulses and are needed for the normal development and functioning of the brain. A deficiency of EFAs can lead to an impaired ability to learn and recall information.
Experts agree: "Heat destroys essential fatty acids. Worse, it results in the creation of dangerous free radicals" (Balch and Balch pg. 68). Udo Erasmus says, "heat destroys EFAs and turns them into poisonous breakdown products that interfere with EFA functions and create free radicals." The bottom line is: eat only living foods and you will never have to worry about consuming these poisonous breakdown products or this type of free radical that can be so damaging to the body.
One of the most knowledgeable people on the subject of EFAs, Udo Erasmus Ph.D., states, "... all whole, fresh, unprocessed foods contain some EFA".
"Alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3) is found in high amounts in flax, flax seed oil (approximately 60 percent) and walnut oil (10 percent). Other oils that have high levels of alpha-linolenic acid are perilla oil and hemp oil" (Know Your Fats by Mary G. English, Ph.D., pg. 238). With the exception of fish, animal products are deficient in omega-3 fats.
"Linoleic acid (Omega-6) is found in large amounts in unrefined sunflower seed oil (68 percent)" (Mary G. English, Ph.D., Know Your Fats, pg. 256).
I take one tablespoon of flax seeds ground in a coffee bean grinder (keep refrigerated or consume immediately) on most days and a handful of fresh walnuts (soaked for a few hours) on other days to ensure my omega-3 intake. For the omega-6, I eat raw sunflower seeds soaked and sometimes sprouted. Hemp seeds are a great source of both omega 3 and omega 6 EFAs. They can be bought in a health food store. Be sure to refrigerate after opening.
"The daily requirement for essential fatty acids is satisfied by an amount equivalent to 10 to 20 percent of total caloric intake" (Prescription for Nutritional Healing by Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, and James F. Balch, M.D., pg. 69). This requirement translates into approximately two tablespoons of flax seed oil per day.
Traveling in New Zealand in 2002, I came across a sticker on an avocado that caught my attention: "NZ AVOCADOS NATIONAL HEART FOUNDATION APPROVED." Just a few years prior I had suggested that my mother include small amounts of avocado in her diet. (My research leads me to believe they are very beneficial.) She told me that her cardiologist had told her to avoid avocados but had not told her anything about essential fats. So, who is correct: The New Zealand Heart Foundation or my mom's American cardiologist?