HEALTH NOTES

Omega 3’s and Omega 6’s

Recently, many of you may have heard or read in my articles, regarding Omega-3 fatty acids, or fish oils. Many people in my practice have voiced confusion to me regarding what these substances are and what they do. They also have confusion about what Omega-6 essential fatty acids (EFA’s) are, and the difference between Omega-six and Omega-three EFA’s.

To begin with Omega-six EFA’s are found primarily in vegetable seed oils, such as corn, sunflower or safflower oils. A deficiency in these specific Omega-6 EFA’s can cause alterations in growth and fertility. They can also cause hormonal disturbances and immunological abnormalities. The problem is, that in our current society with the way foods are prepared, particularly fast foods and processed foods, we receive an extremely high quantity of Omega-six EFA’s in our diets, due primarily to the use of vegetable seed oils in processing.

Omega-three EFA’s are found most commonly in fish oils; however, they can also be found in flaxseed (linseed) oil. Omega-three EFa’s are found primarily in meats of animals who consume grasses or green leafy vegetation. Our brain utilizes Omega-three EFA’s to function normally. Deficiencies in Omega-threes can cause certain brain disturbances.

Omega-three deficiencies have been implicated in psychotic disorders such as paranoid schizophrenia. Deficiency of Omega-three’s have also been implicated in such disorders as rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, cystic fibrosis and psoriasis, to name a few. Omega-threes can be taken into our diets by consuming certain fish including cold water fishes like salmon and cod. Flaxseed and soybeans also contain Omega-three EFA’s. The reason our diets have become deficient in Omega-threes is because of the way meat producing animals are currently raised.

A number of years ago, the meat producers began utilizing feed lots, where animals no longer fed on grasses in a free range environment. They were contained in small areas and given processed feeds and therefore did not take in the green grasses and green leafy vegetation that contains the EFA’s. Consequently, those substances were not incorporated into their bodies since they were not taken in. When these animals were butchered, the meat they produced did not contain significant quantities of Omega-three EFA’s. this is one of the reasons that our diets are out of balance relative to Omega-six and Omega-three EFA’s.

Essential fatty acids contain specific vitamins and minerals including vitamins E, C, A, and Niacin, along with Silenium, Zinc and Manganese. These substances, along with the oils themselves contained in the essential fatty acids, help create a more healthy body and mind on a cellular level.

I trust this information will assist you in understanding this somewhat confusing subject that is currently in the news quite a bit, particularly in the nutritional field. Please take an opportunity to view my website at www.upchiropractic.com.