Your Brain Is Your Body's Engine And
EFA's It's Oil
Any auto mechanic or manufacturer
will tell you that the most overlooked and important service
for a car is to replace the engine's oil and filter. In
fact, many new car warranties will be null and void if the
oil is not changed within the manufacturer's scheduled timelines.
The brain is no different. Well, except that a car is replaceable
and the human body is not. The brain is in charge of communicating
every action the body takes: breathing, pumping blood, eye
blinking, swallowing and digesting food, metabolism, growth
of any kind, puberty, speaking, thinking analytically or
creatively, kicking a ball, moving out of the way of a moving
object, the memory (long and short term), every emotion,
reasoning, coordination and balance, standing upright, etc.
It communicates through the nervous system, which includes
millions and millions of neurons (nerve cells) and neurotransmitters.
Each neuron receives information from thousands of other
neurons as well as sends out information to thousands of
other neurons. This transmission of information is made
smooth and fluent by essential fatty acids (EFA's). Just
like the car needs oil to keep its engine from breaking
down and to maintain longevity, so does the body.
The myelin is the protective sheath that covers the neurons.
It is made up of 30% protein and 70% fat (mainly oleic acid
- omega 9). All cells throughout the body are made up of
a balance of omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids. Omega 3 and 6
are considered essential fatty acids because of how vital
they are to the body (brain) and because they have to be
consumed through diet or supplementation; the body does
not produce them internally. Omega 9's are considered non-essential
because they are produced from starches and sugars within
the body. In our Standard American Diet we get plenty of
omega 6 EFA's from the foods we eat, some may say we get
too much of them, though they are very important to good
health. The issue is that there has to be a balance between
the omega 3 and the omega 6 EFA's, and our society as a
whole is not getting enough of the omega 3's. For optimal
health it is suggested that we consume one omega 3 to every
four omega 6's, however, in the United States the average
ratios are from 11:1 to 30:1 more omega 6's than omega 3's,
an extreme imbalance.
This imbalance of EFA's or rather the deficiency of omega
3's can lead to the following conditions: Alzheimer's disease,
anxiety and body stress, heart disease, attention deficit
disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, bipolar
disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression (including
postpartum depression), learning disorders, Rett's syndrome,
Autism, memory impairment, Parkinson's disease, etc. "Northern
American and European populations showed cumulative rates
of depression 10 times greater than a Taiwanese population
that consumed a lot of fish (a rich source of omega 3).
The Japanese, whose diet is rich in fish, have a significantly
lower prevalence of depression compared to North America
and Europe." (University of Maryland Medical
Center) In addition, Mediterranean diets that consist
of less red meat and more fish, whole grains, fresh fruits
and vegetables, along with moderate wine consumption have
a lower incidence of heart disease.
The good news is we know that through supplementation of
omega 3 EFA's (alpha-linolenic acid or ALA, Eicosapentaenoic
acid or EPA, and Docosahexaenoic acid or DHA) and avoiding
trans fatty acids, found in partially hydrogenated oils,
margarine and shortening, many of these chronic diseases
can be improved or prevented. More good news is that the
word is getting out. For instance, infant formulas and prenatal
pills are being enhanced with DHA. Helping those children
who are breastfed or supplementing with DHA enriched formula
to a higher level of intelligence. Also, the addition to
prenatal pills is helping to minimize postpartum depression.
Essential fatty acids are just that, essential for life
and the quality of life. We must make the appropriate adjustments
to change the severity of chronic diseases in this country
and learn from others. Completely cutting out fats is not
the answer, cutting out the "bad fats" and obtaining the
appropriate balance of the "good fats" is the answer, but
first we have to know, as a society, what that means. Hopefully,
this health tip helps with that plight.
Sources Of Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids
Cold Water Fish And Fish Oils (Wild Salmon, Albacore Tuna,
Sardines, and Herring)
Flax Seeds and Flax Seed Oils
Sources of Omega 6 Essential Fatty Acids
Eggs
Poultry
Whole Grains & Cereals
Pumpkin Seeds
Corn & Various Vegetable Oils
Sources of Omega 9 Fatty Acids
Avocados
Almonds
* Note that many foods can overlap with all
three sources of "Good Fats." Mainly, just try to increase
your intake of omega 3's, eat a little less omega 6's and
eliminate saturated fats and trans fatty acids.
