"...açaí palm fruit has 30 times the amount of antioxidants of red wine and contains essential fatty acids and vitamins C and E, all of which help reduce cholesterol and prevent cancer and heart disease."

- Sports Illustrated for Women

ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS, OMEGAS-3, 6, and 9 

Is all fat bad?  No.  Sometimes it is essential.  Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) are polyunsaturated fatty acids that are derived from linolenic, linoleic, and oleic acids.  There are two primary EFAs: Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.  Unfortunately, humans must obtain EFAs through diet alone because our bodies cannot synthesize them.  There is a third fatty acid that also gets a lot of attention, Omega-9.  Although a necessary fatty acid, it is considered "non-essential" because the body can manufacture a modest amount on its own, provided essential EFAs are present.

EFAs support the cardiovascular, reproductive, immune and nervous systems.  The human body needs EFAs to manufacture and repair cell membranes, thereby enabling cells to obtain optimum nutrition and expel harmful waste products. 

A primary function of EFAs is the production of prostaglandin, which regulates body functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, blood clotting, fertility, conception and plays a role in immune function by regulating inflammation and encouraging the body to fight infection.

Studies of persons with diets high in EFAs have demonstrated that those individuals show:

§      A decreased risk of cardiovascular disease

§      Improved brain function

§      Higher blood levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (a promoter of cardiovascular health)

§      Lower triglyceride levels

Other studies have shown that EFAs help with diabetes, strokes, depression, arthritis, allergies, circulation problems, ADHD, Alzheimer's, skin disorders, gout and others.  In addition to EFAs, Omega-9 fatty acid has been shown to lower the risk of heart attacks and arteriosclerosis, and to aid in the prevention of cancer.