The two essential fatty acids that the human body cannot produce are the omega-3 fatty acid and omega-6 fatty acid, which are important for brain development, immune system function and blood pressure regulation.
What is Omega-3 Fatty Acid?
Omega-3 fatty acid (Alpha-linolenic acid) is an essential fatty acid that plays an important role in brain function and may aid in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association recommends a diet in which fatty fish, like salmon, herring, sardines and tuna are consumed at least twice a week.
While these foods are high in omega-3 fatty acid, I personally do not agree with this recommendation as fish is contaminated and may be high in mercury, which can have detrimental health effects. Plus, I believe a raw food diet consisting of little to no meat is better for the human body.
Health Benefits of Omega-3 Fatty Acid
Research on the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acid have shown that it may be useful for supporting the following conditions.
Asthma [1]
Diabetes [2]
Arthritis [3]
Osteoporosis [4]
Some Cancers [5]
Skin Disorders [6]
High Cholesterol [7]
High Blood Pressure [8]
Attention Disorders [9]
Depressive Disorders [10]
Macular Degeneration [6]
Digestive Difficulties [11]
Omega-3 fatty acids are found naturally in:
Grains
Spirulina
Brazil Nuts
Hempseed Oil
Mustard Seeds
Pumpkin Seeds
Chia Seed Oil
Wheat Germ Oil
Canola Oil (Rapeseed)
Green Leafy Vegetables
Raw Walnuts & Walnut Oil
Flaxseeds or Flaxseed Oil
What is Omega-6 Fatty Acid?
Omega-6 fatty acid (Linoleic Acid) combined with omega-3 fatty acid produces many of the health benefits described above, but the trickiest part about playing the fatty acid game is that it is best to eat them in the right amounts.
You should be eating about twice as much omega-6 as omega-3, so that your omega-6 to omega-3 ratio is 2:1, but in today’s world of fast food, frozen entrees, and high calorie snacks, it is not uncommon for most people to actually be getting about 15 times more omega-6 than omega-3. Washington DC’s center for Genetics, Nutrition and Health suggest that eating omega-6 and omega-3 in the wrong proportions may actually negate the health benefits.
The best sources of omega-6 are seeds, nuts and grains and green leafy vegetables, like lettuce, broccoli, purslane and kale, and in certain raw vegetable oils. Care should be taken to use raw cold pressed vegetable oils because cooking destroys the benefits of the fatty acids.
Omega-6 fatty acids are also found naturally in:
Olive Oil
Wheatgerm
Grapeseeds
Pistachios
Sesame Oil
Hempseed Oil
Pumpkin Seeds
Chia Seed Oil
Safflower Oil
Sunflower Oil
Cottonseed Oil
Raw Nuts & Seeds
What is Omega-9 Fatty Acid?
Omega-9, or monounsaturated oleic and stearic acid, is a non essential fatty acid produced naturally by the body whenever there is enough of either Omega 3 and 6 essential fatty acids.
However, if you do not have enough omega 3 and omega 6, then you must get omega 9 from your diet.
This fatty acid plays a role in preventing heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels. Other benefits of omega 9 are that it reduces hardening of the arteries and improves immune function.
Omega-9 fatty acids are also found naturally in:
Avocados
Pecans
Cashews
Almonds
Hazelnuts
Pistachios
Macadamia Nuts
Chia Seed Oil
Olives & Olive Oil
What is EPA and DHA?
Within the body omega-3 fatty acids are converted to DHA and EPA (docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, respectively). DHA and EPA are highly unsaturated fats that play very important roles in the vision development and brain function of infants.
One study found significantly lower amounts of EPA in the cells of patients who had attempted suicide, suggesting that omega-3 fatty acids may actually play a role in suicide prevention. A lack of DHA has been associated with Alzheimer disease, attention disorders, phenylketonuria, cystic fibrosis and other diseases. Blue green algae is a good source of EPA and DHA.
(Source: http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/benefits-of-omega-3-6-9-fatty-acids)
Benefits of Fish Oil:
Fish oil has been shown in clinical studies to be very beneficial for the following disorders and health concerns:
- Heart: Helps reduce the risk of arrhythmias and sudden death by a heart attack.
- Brain: Improves concentration and memory, lessens likelihood of depression, and reduces risk of ADHD in children.
- Cholesterol and Triglycerides: Lowers triglycerides to help balance your cholesterol.
- Joints and Arthritis: Better joint function from reduced inflammation and a reduction in pain.
- Skin and Beauty: Improves the health and appearance of your skin, helps keep your nails strong, and makes your hair healthy and shiny.
- Immune system and Cancer: Proven to be beneficial for the body's immune function, lowering risk of breast and prostate cancer.
- Vision: Improves focus, colour, perception, and clarity of vision.
- Digestive System: Improves intestinal health and reduces inflammation, assisting those with IBS or Crohn's Disease.
- Allergies: Omega-3 fatty acid intake by mothers during pregnancy may protect babies against the development of allergies. It may also help people with existing allergies.
- Diabetes: Fish oil enhances insulin secretion from beta cells in the pancreas, regulating blood sugar levels. DHA plays a protective role in diabetic neuropathy in all forms of diabetes.
- More: Helps to combat ADHD and bipolar disorders, provides women's benefits, and helps reduce gout.
(www.besthealthsecrets.com/xtend-lifefishoil.php?partner=513667&gclid=CNSGnd646LACFUF76wodlVzedA)
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