Alternative Health Author Dr. Van Loan
Good omega 6 levels reduce fat accumulation but too much omega 6 accelerates some diseases.
Omega 6’s cause inflammation, when they are in relative abundance over omega 3’s. In properly balanced ratios they prevent disease and help in fat control.
Omega 6’s are essential, long chain, fatty acids that are necessary for optimal health. Except for CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) they are usually abundant in most diets. CLA is very important to fat metabolism and energy production from fats.
In a study followed by the American Journal of Physiology (1999) the supplementation of CLA reduced body fat by 20%. It did so by increasing the metabolic rate and muscle mass.
A Norwegian study found that human fat was reduced and muscle mass was gained with an abundance of CLA. This report was published in the 2000 Journal of Nutrition.
On the negative side, numerous studies (97 of them), show increased levels of omega 6’s are co-related to increased cancers and their rate of growth. Two factors are believed to cause this. Omega 6’s cause inflammation, it is a hallmark of cancer development. Secondly, angiogenesis occurs. This means a proliferation of blood vessels and an increase in blood supply to the cancerous tumor. The cancer thrives in this environment.
When ratios of omega 6′s are too high they may contribute to heart disease, increased cancer, osteoporosis, asthma and arthritis. (A little omega 6 is good but a lot is bad.) Excessive inflammation accompanies too much omega 6. Many diseases are fueled by inflammation.
For more information on the importance of enough omega 3 in heart, eye and brain disease go to: http://naturalhealthsecrets.ws
The essential fatty acids (omegas) are important throughout the body. The brain is very much affected by a lack of omega 3’s, or more accurately a poor ratio of omega 3’s to omega 6’s. The typical American has a ratio of omega 3’s to omega 6’s at 1:20 to 1:45. The optimal ratio is one Omega 3 to three or four Omega 6’s.
Omega 6’s are necessary but generally in oversupply; therefore it is necessary to increase the omega 3’s. As you are probably aware, fish oil and flax oil are the buzz words today. They supply generous amounts of omega 3’s and other recommended nutrients.
The reason that too much omega 6 is not good, even though it is essential, is that it overpowers and competes with the omega 3’s; yet it does not function as beneficially as omega 3’s do. High intake of corn products increases omega 6’s and it can be inflammatory if the omega 3 balance is diminished.
A good balance of omega 3’s to omega 6’s extinguishes inflammation. As a result of this, rheumatoid arthritis is significantly reduced as well as other inflammatory pain with proper levels of Omega 6.
As many as 13 good quality studies verify the anti-inflammatory benefits of fish oil which is high in omega 3’s. Reduction of the omega 6 ratio to omega 3 reduces rheumatic arthritis pain and dysfunction…Denis Van Loan D.D.S.
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