Exactly what is an essential fat and why they are so important to achieving better fat loss?

Great question, great topic! Essential fats are biochemically termed, Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) and they encompass two distinct families - Omega 3 and Omega 6. The body cannot produce or manufacture them. They must be obtained in the diet.

The two EFA families are very different and not interchangeable they have very different biochemical roles. We need very precise amount of each. The typical western (Australian, British, North American) diet contains way too much omega 6s and nowhere near enough omega 3s. In fact, most Australians are considered chronically deficient in omega-3s.

This imbalance creates an 'inflammatory environment' that underlines many conditions that destroy health, such as weight gain, type-2 diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and even poor results from consistent exercise training.
Yep, that's correct. This chronic imbalance between the omega-6 and omega-3 creates an environment within the body that makes recovery from exercise and efficient fat metabolism, virtually impossible.

Unfortunately this chronic imbalance that most people have, is not corrected by simply popping a few fish oil capsules each day. 

For the latest research to help ensure your essential fat intake is optimising your fat loss efforts go to our great TCB resource -  Best Sources of Omega-3. 

FOLLOW Dr Paul Cribb PhD.