Fat is a very efficient fuel for skeletal muscle, and individual fatty acids are essential for every cell membrane—especially the unique protective layer around nerve structures in our brains. This makes fatty acids an essential requirement, but the minimum amount we need is very low, only about 3 grams of essential fatty acids per day. Diet-wise, that translates to eating between 25 and 35 percent of our daily calories from fat to get the minimum 3 grams of essential fatty acids.
