Omega-3: The Good Fat

If you’re expecting yet another ‘Don’t eat butter and lard’ article, you’re in for a surprise.

There are two families of essential fats: Omega-3 and Omega-6.

Both types of fats are critical for survival. If you don’t get enough, you can die. These two fats cannot be generated in your body – it must be consumed through your diet.

Occasionally, you’ll hear about Omega-9. Omega-9 is NOT essential because your body can make Omega-9 from Omega-6.

You should:

• MODERATE: Saturated fats like cream, butter, and lard.
  • DO NOT AVOID THESE FATS! This must be slightly shocking to read on an Omega-3 website. We understand.
  • As scientists understand fats and their role in our health, we need to keep up and alter our diets accordingly.
  • Limited amounts of saturated fats are necessary for proper cell membranes.
  • The same goes for Cholesterol. Big-bad-cholesterol is not-so-bad after all.
  • Your body NEEDS cholesterol for many functions.

• AVOID: Trans fats found in snacks, fried foods, pastries, and margarines.
  • Trans-fats in processed foods are man-made. Trans-fats rarely occur in nature.
  • Look for the words “partially hydrogenated oil” in the nutrition panel of processed foods. It is the food industry language for trans fat.
  • Food processors use trans fat because it is cheap and lasts a long time. Many fast food outlets still use trans fats to deep-fry because it can be used over and over.

• AVOID: Omega-6: Corn oil, Soy oil (often sold as Vegetable oil), Sunflower oil and Safflower oil.
  • That’s right! We said ‘Avoid Omega-6.’
  • Why? Because our diets and these oils are too high in Omega-6.
  • Omega-6 and Omega-3 compete for positions in your body’s tissues. And Omega-6 usually wins because there is so much of it in our diet.
  • We used to eat Omega-3 and 6 in roughly equal parts. Now our diets contain almost 20 to 30 times more Omega-6.
  • Too much Omega-6 makes is hard for Omega-3 to do its job.
  • As a result, your daily need for Omega-3 keeps increasing.
  • Replace your corn and vegetable oil with Coconut or Olive oil instead.

When there is not enough Omega-3 or 6, your body will make do with Omega-9. This has serious health consequences.

Similarly, when there is not enough Omega-3, your body will make do with Omega-6. This has even more serious health consequences.

For ideal health, you need 2 parts Omega-6 to 1 part Omega-3 in your diet. But the average American diet has 20 to 30 parts Omega-6 to 1 part Omega-3. This is a recipe for disaster!

Why Too Much of a Good Thing (Omega-6) is a Recipe for Disaster?

Omega-3 and Omega-6 compete for the same position in our tissues. When there are 2 parts Omega-6 and 1 part Omega-3 in your diet (ideal ratio), Omega-3 always wins.  But the average American diet has 20 to 30 parts Omega-6 and 1 part Omega-3.

This imbalance has severe consequences: excess Omega-6 fats cab be pro-inflammatory. In other words, in excess, they may cause joint pain, obesity, and several chronic illnesses.

And they out compete Omega-3 for spots in your body’s tissues.  So you have to continue taking more and more Omega-3 for it to be effective.

If you eliminate Corn oil and Soy (vegetable) oil and any foods with it from your diet, your Omega-3 pills will become super-powered!