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One of the most known nutritional deficiencies is in omega-3 fats. This nutrient is far more important than any vitamin or mineral deficiency. Studies show that optimal omega-3 levels can greatly improve your overall health, increase your energy, and help you retain mental function as you age. Omega-3s also reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, depression, and Alzheimer's disease - and they can be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, digestive disorders, and a host of other diseases. Deficiencies in this important nutrient have also been tied to weight gain, memory problems and allergies. The Omega-6 to Omega-3 Ratio Along with omega-3, another essential fatty acid, omega-6, is also very important for your health. The difference is that while your food is probably lacking in omega-3, it is overloaded with omega-6. While omega-6 fats are essential for life, when consumed in unnatural amounts they actually promote disease. The ideal ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats is 1:1. Today, though, our ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 averages from 20:1 to 50:1! The reason for this highly skewed ratio? The primary sources of omega-6 are corn, soy, canola, safflower, and sunflower oils. All of these oils are overabundant in our foods. (If you don't believe me, pick up just about any processed food and look at the label. One of these oils will be in the list of ingredients.) Meanwhile, omega-3 is primarily found in flaxseed oil, walnut oil, and fish - items that are far less prevalent in most people's diets. Combine an overload of omega-6 with hardly any omega-3, and you get the dangerous 20:1 or 50:1 ratio that we see today. How to Increase Your Omega-3 Fats By far, the best type of omega-3 fats are those found in fish. That's because the omega-3 in fish is high in two fatty acids that are crucial to human health: DHA and EPA. These two fatty acids are pivotal in preventing heart disease, cancer, and many other diseases. Your brain is also highly dependent on DHA. Low DHA levels have been linked to depression, schizophrenia, memory loss, and a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's. While you can get omega-3 from plant sources like flaxseeds, it exists in plants as the fatty acid ALA. Your body must convert the ALA into DHA and EPA - but the conversion rate is actually very small. You would have to eat large amounts of plant sources of omega-3 to get even close to the amounts of DHA and EPA that you can get with fish. Most fish, though - even farm-raised fish - are polluted with mercury, PCBs, and other toxins. Sadly, these toxins make eating the fish more of a detriment than a benefit to your health. It would be better for you to supplement daily with a high-quality brand of fish oil or cod liver oil. (What's the difference? Cod liver oil contains vitamins A and D; fish oil does not.) These oils are purified and therefore do not pose the health risks of polluted fish. It’s wise to be aware of the amount of vitamin A you are taking if you take cod liver oil or you can get too much. Once you increase your omega-3 by taking a high-quality fish oil or cod liver oil, it's essential that you cut back on your omega-6 intake. This means limiting the amount of vegetable oils in your diet, not only in their pure form but also in the many, many processed foods (potato chips, baked goods, salad dressings, margarine, shortening, etc.) that contain them. Acceptable healthy oils include high-quality extra virgin olive oil. Only then will your omega-6 to omega-3 ratio begin to balance out and approach the healthy 1:1 ratio of our ancestors.
Article Source: http://www.bodyformind.com/db
Dov Oshri is the author of the revolutionary Anti-Aging Fitness Program "Change Your Body and Be Admired". He is the chief editor of Body for Mind – a Wellness Lifestyle for Successful People. His cutting edge Anti-Aging Fitness Program can be downloaded for FREE at www.bodyformind.com
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