Why are Omega 3 Fatty Acids
'Essential'?
Omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids essential to the
normal functioning of every tissue in the body. Deficiencies in
these essential fats are commonly cited as being responsible for
a number of different symptoms and disorders which include:
- liver and kidney deficiency
and abnormality
- blood cell degeneration
- reduced growth and regeneration
- lowered immune system
- depression
- loss of skin quality including dryness and
scaly skin
By ensuring that we have a correct intake of omega
3 and omega 6 (in the right proportions - see below) we can gain
a number of health
benefits. According to the PCRM, 'prevention of atherosclerosis,
reduced incidence of heart disease and stroke, and relief from
the symptoms associated with ulcerative colitis, menstrual pain,
and joint pain' have been shown to result from sufficient omega
3 intake.
Essential Balance:
It has been widely documented that one of the
major causes of the rapid rise in degenerative diseases in the
Western world is the huge increase in omega 6 intake and the disastrous
loss of omega 3 intake during the last century. Research
has shown that in 1930 there were only 3,000 deaths per year in
the USA from myocardial infarction (MI)—a massive blood clot
leading to obstruction of a coronary artery and consequent death
to the heart muscle - but by 1960, there were at least 500,000
MI deaths per year in the US. This correlates almost exactly
with the time that margarines and vegetable oils went into mass
production (and became affordable) while the use of natural fats
decreased accordingly.*
Udo
Erasmus gives the following definitions for this
phenomenon:
omega 6 (w6)
a family of related fatty acids essential for
human health. These are amply supplied by Western diets. In
fact, their consumption has doubled in the last 50 years. From
w6 fatty acids, the body makes series 1 and 2 prostoglandins. Excess
of the latter can cause inflammation, water retention, increased
blood pressure, sticky platelets, and decreased immune response.
omega 3 (w3)
a second family of related fatty acids essential
to human health but lacking from most Western diets. Our intake
of these has decreased to 1/6 of their level in 1850. From
w3 fatty acids, our body makes series 3 prostaglandins which prevent
the negative effects of series 2 prostoglandins by preventing their
production.
omega 6:3 balance
the balance of w6 to w3 fatty acids that leads
to optimum health. Researchers consider four or five omega
6 to each omega 3 a good balance. Most Western diets are
between 10 and 20 to 1 in favour of omega 6, far too high in omega
6, which encourages overproduction of series 2 prostoglandins with
negative effects on health. Therapeutic w6:w3 balance for
Western diets is about 1 to 2.
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