Es·sen·tial

es·sen·tial -\i-ˈsen(t)-shəl\

a: of the utmost importance :basic, indispensable, necessary <an essential requirement for admission to college>
b: being a substance that is not synthesized by the body in a quantity sufficient for normal health and growth and that must be obtained from the diet <dietary protein provides the body with essential amino acids>
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/essential

There you have it… A textbook definition of what it means for something to be essential. I didn’t make this up; this isn’t my definition. Nor was I the one to identify specific fatty acids and amino acids as being essential. I make the assumption that you were paying attention in your high school biology lecture and picked up on the notion that there are essential amino acids and essential fatty acids. Accordingly, that would mean that there are specific fatty acids and amino acids that we would be required to consume because our bodies are unable to synthesize them on its own.

If you’re even somewhat serious about gaining muscle, improving performance, dropping bodyfat, or whatever may be required in order for you to reach your physique oriented goal, I’m sure you have already firmly grasped the concept of protein supplementation. I’ve talked to people who say they are eating 2 grams of protein per pound of bodyweight. For a 200 pound man that’s four hundred grams per day! That’s just crazy!

The point is, people have embraced the idea that adequate and proper protein intake is necessary for muscle repair and growth. Taking a look around, between the abundance of quality animal proteins, protein powders and amino supplements, I doubt anyone is in danger of not fulfilling their essential amino acid requirements.

On the same note, you would be hard pressed to find someone who thought it was okay to skip the carbohydrates. C’mon, you know you’ve always been told how important carbohydrate intake is for fueling your body with the energy it needs to function properly, perform at optimal levels and train with maximum intensity. Wait a second. What did you say? Oh yeah, you’re right.

Technically there is no such thing as an essential carbohydrate or sugar. That’s true, only amino acids and fatty acids are essential for life. But hey, people still eat plenty of them anyways. Aside from the fact that the practically obsolete food guide pyramid suggests that you make carbohydrates the foundation of your diet and get the majority of your calories from them, many people still believe that carbohydrates should serve as the basis of a solid diet.

Alright alright, I’m not here to talk about whether or not carbohydrate intake is necessary or to talk about ketosis dieting or anything like that. I am simply illustrating the fact that people take in plenty of carbohydrates even thought they are not even essential for proper human nutrition. And people have had an easy time accepting the fact that essential amino acids exist and protein intake must be optimal in order for you to be at your best.

So what about fat? Fat. Such a dirty word. I don’t know when it started but in my twenty-seven years on this Earth I have always heard a low fat diet being advocated by the masses. I was always told to stay away from fat. Fat makes you fat. Sounds logical right? It’s almost as if you’re going to eat some fat and it is going to enter into your body and immediately attach itself to your abdomen or your ass or your thighs. Damn… I hate when that happens.

Let me ask you this—if fat is what makes you fat and you can have your pick of everything from lowfat cheese to lowfat peanut butter (seemingly a contradiction of the very nature of these foods) then why the hell is everyone so damn fat?! You’ve seen it yourself. People have gotten and continue to get fatter and fatter and fatter. Interesting huh? You’re damn right it is. It’s interesting because it makes no sense and people continue to do it.

What do I propose? Well I think people should take a look at the fact that there are essential amino acids and essential fatty acids and make them the foundation of their diet. If you had a question about World War II and referred to an encyclopedia for your answer I assume you would trust the information you found and accept it as truth. I encourage you to pick up any reference book and read about essential fats. An encyclopedia will tell you how you must have them in your diet, how crucial they are in order for you to function properly and all the positive effects of consuming your essential fatty acids.

So why are people so resistant to incorporating fats in their diet? Because they’ve had it beaten into their brains that fat is bad for you and that fat makes you fat. Fat does not make you fat. Not eating fat makes you fat. That’s right, you heard me. Not taking in any one vitamin, mineral, and or macronutrient puts you at the risk of seriously messing up your metabolism. That’s because you need vitamins, minerals, water, and the proper macronutrients to look and feel your best. Neglect any one of them and how could you expect to function at an optimal level? You can’t. And if your metabolism is not functioning at 100% because you’re depriving it of something that is essential, such as fats, then you will get fat. C’mon, it’s not rocket science; it’s just common sense.

I’d like to share with you an ideal essential fatty acid regimen:

• 1,000 mg fish oil x 3 times daily
• 1,300 mg evening primrose oil x 3 times daily
• 1,000 mg flax seed oil x 2 times daily
• 1,000 mg conjugated linoleic acid x 3 times daily

For you, you may need to scale back your intake and tailor it to your specific needs. But as you can see, it is a fairly straightforward regime. I get fats from both fish and vegetable sources to make for a complete and comprehensive approach.

I take fish oils because it is rich in the omega-3 fatty acids EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). EPA and DHA are important for mental health, neurological development, regulating inflammation, and sharpening insulin sensitivity. Increasing insulin sensitivity is especially important because the more sensitive you are to your insulin, the less your body will need to produce. Less insulin production means less fat storage, better blood lipid profiles, and a healthier heart. Furthermore, fish-based sources of omega-3 fatty acids are very easy for the body to assimilate and use.

From vegetable sorces, I include some flaxseed oil because it contains the omega-3 fatty acid ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) which can be used by your body to produce EPA and DHA. While some may argue that it first needs to be converted to EPA and DHA, I feel that it is always a good idea to have a variety and to cover every angle. Besides, EFA supplementation isn’t just about EPA and DHA. You want a wide range of fatty acids in your diet.

I also supplement with evening primrose oil in order to get sufficient amounts of GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) which is vital in order for the body to produce prostaglandins. Prostagalandins are hormones which are necessary for growth, mood regulation, and immune system function. And I round out my supplementation with CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) which, although it is not an essential fatty acid, has been shown to help keep bodyfat in check. For this purpose, I’m also thinking about adding sesamin in the future.