Pharmacist Doug's Diet Tip #1
By: Meaghan Collier
Updated: January 3, 2013
Essential Fatty Acids are long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. There are two groups of EFAs: Omega-3 and Omega-6. Polyunsaturated refers to the length and amount of hydrogen atoms and double bonds.
One of the main functions of EFAs is the manufacture and function of cell membranes. What I mean is that EFAs are one of the building blocks to create healthy cell membranes so that appropriate nutrients can pass through the cell membrane and other nutrients and chemicals or toxins are kept from passing through the cell membrane. When we consume partially hydrogenated unsaturated trans fats, the cell membranes are manufactured with faulty building blocks and nutrients, chemicals and toxins get clogged in the cell membrane and are not allowed to pass when needed. This causes inflammation, absorption problems of important nutrients, irritation of endothelial cells and many more metabolic malfunctions. Some other functions of EFAs are; decreasing inflammation and neurotransmitter transportation.
If you do not consume appropriate EFAs your metabolism will be sluggish and inefficient. Plus, you will experience metabolic inflammation, which itself leads to weight gain.
There is a preferred ratio with Omega-6 and Omega-3. Because of diets rich in sugar, alcohol, or trans fats from processed foods and smoking, pollution and stress we get an over abundance of Omega-6 in our bodies. The key is balance. We are supposed to have a little more Omega-6 than Omega-3, but the things I mentioned above cause a ratio of 18:1 and 24:1 instead of 4:1 or even 1:1. This unbalanced ration causes a deficiency of Omega-3, which science has linked to decreased mental abilities, poor vision, increased tendency to form clots, lowered immune function, increased triglycerides and bad cholesterol (LDL) levels, hypertension, irregular heart beat, learning disorders, impaired membrane function, growth retardation in infants, children and pregnant women.
You can get more Omega-3 from fish oil, flax oil,walnuts, organic eggs, and meat from grass fed cows, pumpkin seeds, Brazil nuts, avocados, spinach, mustard greens, olive oil, salmon and canola oil. What you need to know is that your body uses these foods to convert to the appropriate EFA, but, if you continue with diets rich in sugar, alcohol, or trans fats from processed foods and smoking, pollution and stress, you will still not convert to the appropriate amount of Omega-3 and continue to be deficient.
One of the main functions of EFAs is the manufacture and function of cell membranes. What I mean is that EFAs are one of the building blocks to create healthy cell membranes so that appropriate nutrients can pass through the cell membrane and other nutrients and chemicals or toxins are kept from passing through the cell membrane. When we consume partially hydrogenated unsaturated trans fats, the cell membranes are manufactured with faulty building blocks and nutrients, chemicals and toxins get clogged in the cell membrane and are not allowed to pass when needed. This causes inflammation, absorption problems of important nutrients, irritation of endothelial cells and many more metabolic malfunctions. Some other functions of EFAs are; decreasing inflammation and neurotransmitter transportation.
If you do not consume appropriate EFAs your metabolism will be sluggish and inefficient. Plus, you will experience metabolic inflammation, which itself leads to weight gain.
There is a preferred ratio with Omega-6 and Omega-3. Because of diets rich in sugar, alcohol, or trans fats from processed foods and smoking, pollution and stress we get an over abundance of Omega-6 in our bodies. The key is balance. We are supposed to have a little more Omega-6 than Omega-3, but the things I mentioned above cause a ratio of 18:1 and 24:1 instead of 4:1 or even 1:1. This unbalanced ration causes a deficiency of Omega-3, which science has linked to decreased mental abilities, poor vision, increased tendency to form clots, lowered immune function, increased triglycerides and bad cholesterol (LDL) levels, hypertension, irregular heart beat, learning disorders, impaired membrane function, growth retardation in infants, children and pregnant women.
You can get more Omega-3 from fish oil, flax oil,walnuts, organic eggs, and meat from grass fed cows, pumpkin seeds, Brazil nuts, avocados, spinach, mustard greens, olive oil, salmon and canola oil. What you need to know is that your body uses these foods to convert to the appropriate EFA, but, if you continue with diets rich in sugar, alcohol, or trans fats from processed foods and smoking, pollution and stress, you will still not convert to the appropriate amount of Omega-3 and continue to be deficient.
