Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs). The EFAs are certainly not entirely new. It seems that most everyone has heard of flaxseed oil and the benefits of omega-3 EFAs in the diet. What many don't realize is that other options exist for obtaining EFAs. There are also new products that have a similar fatty acid profile to flax, such as chia seed oil.
Much like a vitamin, two fatty acids are truly "essential": linoleic acid (LA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). These fatty acids are the "source material" for the metabolism of other fatty acids which, in turn, produce prostaglandins and eicosanoids.