Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are essential to human health but cannot be made in the body. Therefore, they must be obtained from food or supplements. EFAs are present in every healthy cell and are critical for the normal growth and function of nerves, muscles, cells, and organs. EFAs are also used to produce a hormone-like substances (prostaglandins), which are essential to many important processes. EFA deficiency has been linked to a host of health problems including diabetes, inflammation and heart disease.
