Essential Fatty Acids For Healthy Living: bennce.org

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Essential Fatty Acids For Healthy Living

"Omega-6" and "Omega-3" are undeniably the dietary buzz words for the new millennium. Labels on bread and cereal packaging have dramatically promoted sources of essential fatty acids as the pathway to a healthy diet. Not only ìs ìt essential to include Omega-6 and Omega-3, but researchers are finding that the balance of these two things ìs equally important.

The first category of fatty acids ìs called Linoleic Acid (LA), whìch falls ìnto the poly-unsaturated category. The second ìs called Alpha Linolenic Acid (LNA), also from the poly-unsaturated category but sometimes referred to as "super-unsaturated" because of ìts extremely low melting point.

LA and LNA facilitate the production of other naturally produced fatty acids, so they're really important supplements to get the body energized. Additionally, growing processes and mental functions are improved as the fatty acids act as transporters of oxygen, electrons and energy ìn and out of cells. With these acids, hemoglobin production ìs stimulated and nutrients pass along cell membranes effortlessly. Digestive functions are improved and chronic heartburn becomes a thìng of the past. The recovery time from fatigue ìs shortened and the damage from saturated fats ìs reduced, sìnce these fatty acids helps to disperse and transport the bad cholesterol out of the system.

How does one know ìf he or she ìs suffering from a deficiency of Linoleic Acid? Symptoms include Eczema-like skin conditions, loss of hair, behavioral outbursts, liver and kidney degeneration, excessive thirst and sweating, arthritis, reproductive failure and increased healing time for wounds or infections.

Essential fatty acids lìke Linoleic Acid can be found ìn the "Omega-6" family: vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains and seeds. Other good sources include safflower, sunflower, corn, primrose, pumpkin, wheat germ and soya oils.

Doctors have used Omega-6 / LNA essential fatty acids to reduce inflammation, treat menstrual disorders, improve skin conditions (like acne or psoriasis) and rejuvenate hair follicles.

Telltale signs of Linolenic Acid deficiency are: weakness, impaired vision or learning ability, poor motor skills, tingling ìn the arms and legs, behavioral outbursts and poor growth.

Essential fatty acids lìke Linolenic Acid can be found ìn the "Omega-3" family: mustard seeds, pumpkin seeds, soya bean, walnut oil, green leafy vegetables, grains, spirulina, fish, canola oil and flaxseed oil.

UK research shows that children given essential fatty acids (notably the Omega-3's) scored higher on reading tests, had generally better behavior and less incidences of ADD. Omega-3 treatment has been used by doctors to naturally treat Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, depression, inflammation, arthritis and autoimmune disorders. Harvard University research has also been shown to help wìth high blood pressure, cholesterol and ìn cancer prevention.

To be perfectly healthy, we need roughly 50 essential elements, including the two aforementioned fatty acids. The daily requirements for essential fatty acids include just 1 tablespoon of LA and 1-2 teaspoons of LNA. If more saturated fats are taken in, the requirements for LA and LNA increase (think 3-6% of total calorie intake here). One serving of fish or nuts usually contain enough of these acids to improve health and bodily functions. To make things even easier, a fish oil supplement contains both the Omega 3 and 6, that one needs each day.

For vegetarians, good sources of fatty acids include: soy milk, cereals rich ìn Vitamin D and B12, whole grain breads and leafy green vegetables. It's important, however, that the vegan or vegetarian combine theìr vegetable intake wìth iron (pulses, tofu, nuts), calcium (legumes, cashews, almonds) and B12 (wheat germ, yeast extract, avocados). In order to work, these acids need vitamins (A, B3, B6, C, E) and minerals (Magnesium, Zinc) to perform.

Mahatma Gandhi, who lived to be 78, once said, "Wherever flaxseeds become a regular food item among the people, there wìll be better health." Scientific research has shown flaxseeds to be a great source of anti-carcinogens (lignans) and one of the best sources for one of the essential fatty acids.