This is the second monthly newsletter, and like the first, it deals with nutrition - specifically the different types of fat in our diet. However, the newsletters will deal with a wide range of topics, including disease prevention, physical activity, aging well and many other subjects. You can contact me at ramila@ramilas.com. I welcome your comments and suggestions! For many years, researchers focused on the total amount of fat in the diet, but now it's clear that the type of fat we eat is more important to heart health, and many other aspects of our health, than just the overall amount. Every living cell in the body needs essential fatty acids (polyunsaturated fats). They are essential for rebuilding and producing new cells. They are also necessary for the production and balance of prostaglandins, hormone-like substances, which regulate all body systems and functions, including the cardiovascular, immune, reproductive, and central nervous systems. Essential fatty acids are found in high amounts in the brain where they assist in the transmission of nerve impulses; they are necessary for normal brain function. Japanese researchers have verified that a deficiency of essential fatty acids can result in an impaired ability to learn and recall information.