One of the most important missing factors in the contemporary diet is healthy fat. According to historians the dietary fat balance of five generations ago had the proper balance of fatty acids. This allowed the body to function optimally. The modern diet is sorely lacking in balance causing much of the chronic illness seen in America today. We suffer from excessive amounts of circulating chemicals causing eczema, arthritis, dry skin, cradle cap, acne, recurrent infections, heart disease and ADHD. These inflammatory prostaglandins are formed from excessive amounts of “omega six” fatty acids in the foods we eat.
Omega three fats that counteract inflammation ordinarily would balance these omega six fats. Our ancestors of the early twentieth century consumed fats in a one to one ratio of omega three to omega six. Today we eat as much as twenty five times as much of the omega six oils as we do those in the omega three oil category. One of the most important managements of these conditions begins with diet changes and the supplements listed below, which are designed to increase the amounts of omega three fats or follow the same program to prevent symptoms.
Omega three fats typically will oxidize or become rancid quickly with heat or light exposure. Products or foods containing higher amounts of these fats should not be used for cooking foods because of their tendency to degrade with heat. Commercial products often remove omega three fatty acids to prevent rancidity, altering many naturally occurring food sources of omega three oils. A good rule of thumb is that any oil that does not require refrigeration and/or is stored in a clear container is probably extremely low in these fats.
Liquid omega three rich products then, must either be kept refrigerated (shelf life of 30 days) or frozen (good for about six months) once opened. We tell our patients to take a small amount of oils like flax seed oil and pour it into an opaque container kept in the refrigerator, the rest remaining in the freezer. This container should be then dated and contents discarded after 30 days. Once the container is empty, replenish it from the frozen oil.
Helpful dietary changes you should make include decreasing the amounts of foods containing higher amounts of omega six oils such as meats (except fish because they have higher omega 3 content), dairy products, butter, and vegetable oils higher in these fats such as corn, sunflower, safflower, soy and sesame. All hydrogenated oils (read labels of already prepared foods) should be eliminated, including margarine and processed foods containing partially hydrogenated oils. Increase raw nuts, seeds, unheated canola oil, walnut oil, primrose oil, borage oil and fish, especially salmon, mackerel, herring, menhaden and sardines. Cook foods only in olive or grape seed oil, the only heat stable cooking oils.
Dietary supplements to enhance omega three amounts include the following:
Flaxseed oil. May be taken internally as well as massaged into the skin in the case of rashes.
Fish oil supplements.
We, along with most authorities of this subject, recommend everyone use these products daily as regularly as possible to support optimal and vibrant health.
