Essential fatty acids [EFAs] are called essential because your body does not make them; you have to consume them in your diet. So you are what you eat! The amount of these fats in your diet will affect your body’s balance of eicosanoids. Eicosanoids are signaling molecules that affect virtually every cell in your body. Your body makes these signalingmolecules from 2 types of EFAs: omega-3 and omega-6. In general, eicosanoids made from omega-3 fat promote healing and decrease inflammation in the body [anti-inflammatory], whereas those made from omega-6 fat promote inflammation in the body [pro-inflammatory]. So consuming more omega-3 fats promotes healing by decreasing inflammation throughout the body.

Is your diet S.A.D.?

The Standard American Diet [S.A.D.] is rich in the omega-6 fatty acid called arachidonic acid found mainly in meat and dairy. The eicosanoids made from arachidonic acid produce more inflammation in your body and can contribute to chronic inflammatory diseases, such as:

• Asthma - inflammation in the lower airway
• Nasal Allergies - inflammation in the upper airway
• Arthritis - inflammation in the joints
• Atherosclerosis/Heart Disease - inflammation in the arteries
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease - inflammation in the gut
• Eczema & Psoriasis - inflammation in the skin
• Lupus & Scleroderma - inflammation in the connective tissue

The S.A.D. diet is also full of saturated fats and trans fats. Trans fatty acids are man made in the process of hydrogenating vegetable oil to increases the shelf life of processed foods. The body does not know what to do with these trans fats and stores them in the cell wall. Omega-6 fats, saturated fats, and trans fats all create a stiff cell wall.

Stiff cell walls are less permeable which prevent our cells from functioning and communicating effectively. Research suggests that a 3:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 is necessary for optimal health. The average American ratio is 15:1 !!!!!! What’s yours? Consume more omega-3 fat to improve your ratio for optimal health.

There are 2 major dietary sources of omega-3 fatty acids: plant-derived [flaxseed] and marinederived [fish oil]. These 2 sources are not  interchangeable. Only fish oil contains the preformed fatty acids that the body uses. Flaxseed oil contains a precursor which can only partially be converted to the EFAs that the body uses. This conversion is slow and is even slower when vitamins and minerals are not readily available to help out and the diet is S.A.D., rich in omega-6 fat, saturated fat and trans fat. So while flaxseed and flaxseed oil are healthy, they don’t provide adequate amounts of the bioactive omega-3 fatty acids. The optimal and direct source of these beneficial omega-3 fatty acids is a high quality fish oil supplement. Our favorite fish oil supplement is Arctic-D Cod Liver Oil, because it tastes great and is third party tested for: 

• Freshness [lower the peroxide value, the fresher the fish oil]
• Purity [free on environmental contaminants (heavy metals, dioxin, PCBs)]
• Supported by extensive clinical research to provide health benefits
• Contains only naturally occurring [not synthetic] vitamins
• Processed without chemicals or excessive heat
• Uses only fish oil in the natural triglyceride [stable] form vs. the ethyl ester form which can form free radicals

• Reduces triglycerides [high cholesterol]
• Improves circulation Regulates blood pressure [hypertension]

• Stimulates anti-inflammatory eicosanoids
• Reduces inflammation throughout the body
  • joints [arthritis] - airways [asthma, allergies] - digestive tract [inflammatory bowel disease]

• Increases cell wall fluidity and neurotransmitter activity
• Improves cognitive function [thinking, learning, focus and memory]
• Balances mood and behavior [reducing depression, anger, aggression, and anxiety]
• Promotes proper nervous system development during pregnancy and breast-feeding

Optimal Skin Health 

• Softens and protects the skin [reducing eczema and other inflammatory skin rashes]