A2 Fatty acids are nutrients that your body needs in much the same way as it needs vitamins. There are several types of fatty acids, and they’re categorised in two ways. Firstly, fatty acids are divided according to whether your body can manufacture them on its own or not. If the body can manufacture them they’re called “non-essential”, and if it cannot they’re called “essential”. However, some fatty acids don’t fit neatly into either group. Your body can only make certain fatty acids from essential fatty acids – which must be sourced from your diet. Fatty acids in this group are known as “conditionally essential”. Secondly, unsaturated fatty acids are grouped into “Omega” families according to their chemical structure. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in oily fish and linseed oil. Omega-6 fatty acids are found mostly in plant-based oils and certain nuts & seeds, and Omega-9 fatty acids are found in olive oil and nuts such as peanuts.

A3 Your body makes a conditionally essential fatty acid (CEFA) by starting with an essential fatty acid (EFA) andconverting it into another form. If your diet is low in the EFA that your body uses as a base to convert from, you’ll probably have low levels of the CEFA too. If this is the case, you might find that you benefit from topping up the EFA & CEFA levels in your diet, or by taking a supplement.