Tag: Nonessential fatty acids

According to the Linus Pauling Institute, the human body lacks the necessary enzymes to synthesize certain fatty acids, making them an essential part of our diet. This inability to produce them in sufficient quantities is the key characteristic distinguishing essential fatty acids from nonessential ones.

Approximately 25% of the cholesterol in your blood comes from your diet, while the body produces the other 75%. This fact highlights an important distinction in nutrition: some lipids must be consumed through food, while others can be made by the body. This difference is the core concept separating essential and nonessential lipids.