there are certain types of fat that are necessary for living
healthily. These are the two 'families' of essential fatty acids '
omega-3 and omega-6. These compounds are long chain polyunsaturated
fats, as against the short chain saturated fats, which should
generally be avoided. Long chain fatty acids are important for most
key processes in our life, and that is why they are regarded as
'essential.'
Our bodies cannot make them, and so we have to get them from a dietary
source. Fish and seafood are the main sources of the omega-3s,
particularly the key ones for the eye and brain, EPA and DHA. Green
vegetables, certain nuts and oils are the dietary sources for omega-6
fatty acids. But even if you have a good dietary input of the parent
fatty acids (LA and ALA), your body may not be efficient at
metabolising them into the ones needed for optimal brain function. And
this is why a direct input of a supplement seemed prudent.
