Even though you don’t consume any of these Essential Fatty Acids(EFA’s) you are also not getting them in your diet, because they no longer form part of our food supply. Everybody is unique and some people are fortunate enough to see symptoms when they are young and then look for a solution, whereas others see no signs of any deficiency until they become really ill. The symptoms of a deficiency may not have manifested themselves yet, but they will in time. For example, very dry skin is a sign of a deficiency in these essential fats, and although it is not a life-threatening problem, it is an external manifestation of a more serious, underlying problem.