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Phillips Close Quarter Combat Training News
EFA’s: The Story
By Stanley
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Essential fatty acids (EFA’s) are “good fats” that play a critical role in thousands of chemical reactions within our bodies. They are called essential because our bodies cannot produce them, and therefore, we must get them from the food we eat or from supplementation. Every cell in our bodies needs EFA’s. Unfortunately, EFA’s are routinely processed out of most foods. And to make matters worse, unnatural oils, such as unhealthy trans-fatty acids and hydrogenated oils are added back into the foods. How do EFA’s work? Omega-3 and omega-6 EFA’s work together in a kind of balancing act to regulate prostaglandins, which are vital hormone-like substances that support many of the major systems in our bodies, including our immune, cardiovascular, nervous, and reproductive systems. Prostaglandins are essential to hormone synthesis, immune functioning, our bodies’ response to pain and inflammation, and more. Ultimately, EFA’s are involved in energy production, transporting oxygen to the blood, growth, cell division, nerve functioning, cell-to-cell communication, and hormone regulation. (And this is just the short list.) Performance benefits: EFA’s appear to support athletic performance in a number of ways. They may decrease muscle breakdown, increase muscle growth, decrease the time it takes for muscles to recover after exercise, support hormone secretion, aid in the transfer of oxygen from the lungs to the bloodstream, and enhance a number of metabolic functions. They may also help keep the skin and joints healthy through their lubrication properties and anti-inflammatory effects. In addition to their performance-enhancing abilities, hundreds of studies indicate omega-3 EFA’s may lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels and significantly reduce the risk of developing heart or cardiovascular disease. Studies have also shown essential fatty acids may keep the blood moving through our bodies, both by thinning the blood and improving the flexibility of our arteries. This effect may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease as well as lower high blood pressure. Necessary for the transmission of nerve impulses, EFA’s have been shown to help improve learning and memory. Consider this: surveys indicate that the typical American diet is up to 90 percent deficient in EFA’s especially from the omega-3 family. In conclusion: It’s important to keep in mind that certain factors decrease your body’s ability to use EFA’s found in foods, such as diets high in processed vegetable oils, sugar, and alcohol; certain vitamin deficiencies; and high cholesterol levels. That’s why so many people are turning to EFA supplements to fill in the nutritional gaps.
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