Omega-3 and Omega-6 Essential Fatty Acids

Omega-3 and Omega-6 Essential Fatty Acids


The Omega-3 and Omega-6 Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) are just two of the 49 known essential nutrients that your body must have in proper balance in order to maintain good health.

Fact: Most people consuming a North America diet are seriously Omega-3 deficient because of over-processed foods, with one of the most common symptoms of Omega-3 deficiency being depression, among other mental health symptoms.

It’s vitally important to supplement your daily diet with Omega-3’s because your body cannot manufacture (biosynthesize) these Essential Fatty Acids, which means that they can only be obtained from the food in your daily diet.Fact: Essential Fatty Acids are not just for adults, because they are also needed for proper growth in children, particularly for neural development and maturation of sensory systems, with male children having higher needs than females. Fetuses and breast-fed infants also require an adequate supply of EFAs through the mother’s dietary intake.

EFAs support the cardiovascular, reproductive, immune, and nervous systems.

The human body requires EFAs to manufacture and repair cell membranes, enabling the cells to obtain optimum nutrition and expel harmful waste products.

A primary function of EFAs is the production of prostaglandins, which regulate body functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, blood clotting, arterial muscle tone, circulation and lubrication of blood vessels, sodium excretion through your kidneys, platelet stickiness, fertility, conception, and play a role in immune function by regulating inflammation and encouraging the body to fight infection.

Because of these many important functions, much research is being conducted on prostaglandins. EFAs increase your metabolic rate, improve metabolism, increase vital oxygen uptake and increase energy production. These essential fatty acids play critical roles in cell membranes. They provide flexibility and fluidity to the membrane allowing for nutrient transport and passage of waste materials.

When a membrane becomes stiff, like weathered rubber, it loses its protective functions. Stiff cell membranes do not retain moisture well, hence the possible development of dry skin and eczema type rashes as a result of these deficiencies. Of greater importance is the fact that the brain and nervous system are mostly fat, and heavily dependent on EFAs.

EFAs are required for the transport and metabolism of cholesterol and triglycerides. EFAs can lower cholesterol by 25% and high triglycerides by 65%. EFA’s are also required for the normal development of the brain. In adults, and especially developing children, EFAs are essential for efficient brain function, especially the EFA linolenic acid — Omega-3. Science has also found Omega-3s to benefit those who are bi-polar.

Fact:  Most people consuming a North American diet are seriously out of balance with respect to the ideal intake ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 fatty acids. The idea ratio is between 1:1 and 4:1, with most North American diets obtaining an approximate ratio between 10:1 and 25:1.What goes wrong when your body lacks sufficient Omega-3?

Several large scale nutritional surveys have shown that over 60% of the North American population is deficient in EFA’s  (linolenic acid – Omega-3).

Both heart disease and cancer are considered linked to fatty acid degeneration. These two diseases account for approximately 73% of deaths from degenerative disease in North America.

Deficiencies in EFAs can lead to reduced growth, a scaly rash (dermatitis), infertility, and lack of ability to fight infection and heal wounds. Lack of EFAs can cause your cells to “leak”, allowing toxic substances to easily enter (one of the ways we get cancer) while suffering the loss of beneficial nutrients.

Lack of Omega-6 fatty acids, however, is extremely rare in diets of those living in certain Western countries, particularly North America, as well as Israel. In fact, North American and Israeli diets tend to contain too much Omega-6, particularly in relation to Omega-3 fatty acids.

This imbalance contributes to long-term diseases such as heart disease, cancer, asthma, arthritis, and depression. A healthy diet should consist of roughly one omega-3 fatty acids to four omega-6 fatty acids. A typical American diet, however, tends to be seriously out of balance because it contains 11 to 30 times more Omega-6 than Omega-3 fatty acids.

In contrast, a Mediterranean diet is made up of a healthier and more appropriate balance between Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids because the Mediterranean diet includes a generous amount of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, olive oil, and garlic; plus less meat (which is high in Omega-6 fatty acids).

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD):

Studies suggest that children with ADHD have lower levels of EFAs, both Omega-6s and Omega-3s. Given the relationship of EFAs to normal brain and behavioral function, this makes sense. Because of this logical connection and the low levels of EFAs measured in those with ADHD, scientists have speculated that replacement of EFAs through food or supplements may help lessen the hyper behaviors and symptoms of this condition.

Research to date has suggested an improvement in symptoms and behaviors related to ADHD from increased levels of Omega-3 fatty acids.

Osteoporosis:

Essential fatty acids may also enhance calcium absorption, increase calcium deposits in bones, diminish calcium loss in urine, improve bone strength, and enhance bone growth, all of which may contribute to improved bone mass and, therefore, strength.

You can help put yourself back into a good balance of 6/3 by first taking the Omega3 supplement, then eliminating all refined vegetable oils from your diet. Minimize eating foods or dressings that contain refined vegetable oils (if the oil looks crystal clear, it is refined) and increase your intake of raw foods such as salads, fruits and nuts.

Remember, the importance of the word “Essential” in Essential Fatty Acids because “EFAs” are essential to your life! Our Omega3s™ are head and shoulders above the rest, because they are ultra pure and molecularly distilled to remove heavy metals, (including arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury), dioxins, and PCBs.

The fish oil used in our new Omega3 product is sourced from small fish such as anchovies and sardines because small fish contain the least amount of metal and chemical contaminants. Additionally, these oils are tested for oxidation via a number of methods to ensure that they are compliant with the omega-3 specifications set forth by the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN).

Other Ingredients:

Ultra refined fish oil concentrate, gelatin (capsule), glycerin, water, rosemary extract, ascorbyl palmitate, mixed tocopherols, ethylcellulose, coconut oil, aluminum hydroxide, sodium alginate and stearic acid.

This product contains no yeast, wheat gluten, soy protein, milk/diary, corn, sugar, starch, artificial coloring, preservatives or flavoring.

Receiving sufficient dietary levels of EPA and DHA fatty acids in your diet is of paramount importance for the normal functioning of cardiovascular and neurological health.

The high potency of our Omega soft gel capsules easily meets this need, plus this formula is also enteric coated to eliminate any “fishy” taste. Without a doubt, Omega3s™ are essential in the building blocks of good health and your total health program.Quality Control means state of the art nutrition for you!

Quality really does matter and when it comes time to choose an Omega-3 supplement, there is Omega3s™, and then there’s all the rest. All raw materials used in the manufacturing of our products are of the finest quality, tested at the microbiotic level, which means everything that goes into our products are tested right down to their very cells to ensure the highest purity.


About Michael Kelly

Michael Kelly is suntanned, blond, and reasonably fit. He loves surfing, hence the suntan, eating good food, and writing about health and fitness. His nomadic lifestyle following the waves means he gets to write about what he loves whilst doing what he loves. One day he may turn his interest in health and fitness into a formal degree but for the moment, surfs up.