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Fats that Save Lives

The ‘fat’ of the matter:
 

In general, dietary fats have been given a ‘bad name’! They have been blamed for obesity and other health problems time and time again. However, fat also has vital roles to play in our body. Recent research has shown low fat diets to be detrimental to health. Also, if the obesity problem could be solved just by reducing fat from our diet, why is the problem still here, considering the wide range of low-fat and no-fat products available to us?

There are several types of fats, with some being more healthy than others. Essential fatty acids, cannot be made in the body, and must therefore come from an outside food source. There are two main types of essential fatty acids, namely omega 3 and omega 6.

The UK population generally consume excessive amounts of omega 6s, which are common in corn, soy, margarine, sunflower and other oils. Whereas, our consumption of omega 3s, which are found in products such as walnuts, linseeds and spinach, is generally too low. The most important type of omega 3 can primarily be gained from marine products i.e. fish. It is generally believed that our ancestors consumed an omega 3:6 ratio of  between 1:1 to 1:4. In modern times general consumption may range from 1:10 – 1:30!!! This is leading to numerous health problems.

Benefits of achieving the correct balance of omega 3:6:

Excessive consumption of omega 6 may lead to problems such as inflammation and high blood pressure, although moderate consumption has benefits, such as reducing ‘bad’ cholesterol.

The benefits of adequate omega 3 consumption can include the following:
• Maintenance of a healthy cardiovascular system
• Maintenance of blood sugar levels
• Promotion of healthy pregnancies
• Improving brain function, and reducing disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease
• Supporting energy levels and concentration
• Promoting healthy body cells
• Many others

Correcting the essential fatty acid balance:

Omega 6 consumption should be minimised by reducing consumption of products high in these type of fatty acids such as margarine and vegetable oils.

Omega 3 consumption should be optimised by consuming foods high in omega 3. This is why the government currently recommends consumption of at least two portions of oily fish per week. In theory, this is a good recommendation, however, in reality, this may pose another threat to our body. Unfortunately, due to modern methods of off-loading toxic waste into the seas and oceans, the human race has succeeded in polluting approximately 97% of the Earth’s water. The fish which live in these waters become toxic, and therefore, contain harmful substances. One such substance is mercury, which cannot be tasted or smelt, but when consumed can lead to numerous health problems, including the altering of brain function, culminating in diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. Research has actually shown links between fish consumption and increased occurrence of diseases such as cancer. However, it is not the fish itself that is the problem, instead, it is the harmful contaminants that it contains. Ideally, only fish that is free from these contaminants should be consumed, but this can be extremely hard to come by.

Another issue with shop-bought fish is that the majority is ‘farmed’ fish, not ‘wild’ Fish. Due to the fact that farmed fish are not fed a natural diet (one that they would consume in the wild), they lack the omega 3s that wild fish contain.

Due to the problems concerning fish, omega 3 supplements, in the form of fish oils are often recommended. In theory, this is an excellent idea. However, most of the commercial, shop-bought supplements are not free from contaminants such as mercury, and therefore once again may actually be detrimental to your health. Therefore, you should always check to see if the supplements you purchase are free from pollutants. Others do not contain adequate levels of omega 3. For information on how to purchase high quality omega 3 supplements that will improve your health, contact James on 01634 254983 or info@performanceelevation.com.
 

Let’s face ‘fats’:

To improve your health and reduce disease occurrence, strive to maximise your omega 3 consumption. This can be achieved by consuming products high in omega 3s (such as walnuts, linseeds, spinach, uncontaminated wild fish), and regularly taking good quality fish oil supplements. For information on how to purchase high quality omega 3 supplements that will improve your health, contact James on 01634 254983 or info@performanceelevation.com.

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