Good fat can make a huge difference in the health of humans.
Asian cultures which have diets high in cold-water fish, have a much lower incidence of heart diseases than in North America.
This is mainly attributed to the high concentration of Omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFA’s) contained in cold-water fish such as mackerel, sardines, salmon, tuna, and others. Our typical American diet is loaded with sources of Omega-6 fatty acids, from meats, fried foods, high-fructose corn syrup, and a multitude of other sources.
This has resulted in a disproportionate ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 which is causing North Americans to lose the battle in all sorts of areas of health.
The human brain contains a significant proportion of DHA which comes from Omega-3. For us to get the proper amount of Omega-3 to ensure good overall health, we need to be eating at least 8 oz of cold-water fish twice each week or taking a good supplement containing cold-water fish oil.
Our kids are eating all kinds of junk food instead of the foods that are good for brain health, so they are lagging behind many other nations academically.
Children growing up in Asian countries where cold-water fish is a part of their every day diet are leading the pack in the fields of study such as science, math, and physics that America depends on. .
As our diet leans toward consuming all of these unhealthy components, not only are our kids becoming progressively dumber, they are also getting fatter and sicker.
Childhood obesity is growing at an alarming rate. It’s currently predicted that 45% of the next generation of teens entering secondary schools in America will have type 2 diabetes directly attributed to poor dietary choices. This in itself leads to a whole array of new physical problems and even early death.
Other problems that have been linked to our over-consumption of Omega-6 and under-consumption of Omega-3 are ADD, autism, and depression.
Every cell in the human body is dependent on essential fatty acids to function properly. We must get these from our diet, because our bodies can not make them, that’s why they are termed “essential.”
The BEST sources for Omega-3 are cold-water fish, but they are also found in leafy green vegetables, such as spinach, flax seed, flax seed oil, and walnuts.
The EFAs found in vegetables, seeds, and nuts however, are short-chain EFAs which the human body can not absorb as readily as the long-chain fatty acids found in cold-water fish.
However it is still worthwhile to incorporate EFAs from hemp seed and extra virgin olive oil. Olive oil is the most popular and readily used oil for every day living. These are all good fat for the body.
It’s wonderful for cooking, in salad dressings or in other applications. It is protective against heart disease, has large amounts of anti-oxidants and is not associated with weight gain or obesity.
Essential fatty acids are also important in supporting vision health, skin health, and digestive health. If you are not getting enough essential fatty acids in the correct ratios, your health is going to suffer. Get it right, and do it now. Your health depends on it!!
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