EFAs are part of all cell membranes. They help hold proteins in the membrane by the electrostatic attractive forces of their double bonds, and thus they are involved in the traffic of substances in and out of our cells via
Much is still unknown about the functions of EFAs in our body. Of the two, LA has been studied far more extensively than ALA. Both are difficult to work with, because they are easily destroyed, but ALA is five times
The usefulness of LA and ALA in our body results from their chemical properties.
EFAs attract oxygen. This property made EFA-rich oils useful to the paint industry as ‘drying’ oils, which dry and harden when exposed to air. Oils commonly
In our frenzy to avoid killer fats, we can easily forget the fats that heal – those fats that we must obtain from foods in order to be healthy. The key components of healing fats are the essential fatty acids
Minerals
Mineral supplements are available in the form of inorganic salts, organic acid salts, and amino acid chelates. All three forms have merit. Inorganic phosphates, sulfates, and chlorides are important for electrolyte balance; organic ascorbates, acetates, and citrates are natural
Impressive work is being done with vitamins, minerals and EFAs in the treatment of degenerative diseases. Much is being learned, and people are being relieved of degenerative afflictions that resist treatment with drugs, surgery, and radiation.
Gaps in Knowledge
Although
Since deficiencies are widespread, we might well ask why this is so. Without going into a long explanation, let us examine what happens when whole wheat grain is turned into white flour. The following table shows the percentages of essential
One might expect that diets in affluent industrial nations would also be nutritionally affluent, but this is not the case. Even though we have the necessary technology, money is not usually a problem, and we have both time and choices,
To tell the complete story of nutrition, we must acknowledge all essential nutrients required by our body for health. Nutrients cannot work in isolation. All essential nutrients work as a team to build and support health, and to repair damage.
Linoleic acid and Alpha-linolenic acid are Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) that are essential to our health. They are also very temperamental. Light, air, and heat destroy them. Nature packages these oils in seeds that keep out light, air, and heat.