Omega 3, 6 fatty acids and health

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

blog #5 omega 3 fatty acid

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Blog #5 Essential Fatty Acids (Omega 3, 6, 9)
In my previous 4 blogs, I dealt with glycation [similar to oxidation - antioxidants but involves the glucose (sugar) molecule], exercise, war against inactivity and its toxic affects. Today we will deal with the fish oils.
Fish Oil?? (Omega 3) - What's this?

Essential Fatty Acid (EFA)

Any essential nutrient is one that the body cannot produce so it must be consumed within the diet or through supplementation. EFAs are comprised of Omega-3, Omega-6, and Omega-9 fatty acids, which are differentiated according to their chemical structures.

Who has not heard about fish oil, Omega 3's? Why should you or anyone else care to consume this fatty substance that has been pressed and collected from our cold water friends?


Omega-3 fatty acids are known to reduce inflammatory states such as arthritis, allergies, asthma, psoriasis, and eczema. Depression, ADHD, Autism, and bipolar disorder may also improve with EFA supplementation. The benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids are well established, but eating foods high in Omega-3 fatty acids is often difficult. Most people choose to get their Omega-3 fatty acids through supplements.

RATIOS, it all comes down to ratios.

All of you out there are great at math or some say they are not; Kevin Skinner (America's Got Talent), the chicken catcher says he is not good at math but what a fantastic personality and voice he has.

Here's a quick explanation:

Our brilliant body is made up of an ecosystem of trillions of cells working together governed by our nerve system. Each cell in our body is able to keep itself separate from its environment by having a semi permeable phospholipid bilayer membrane (kind of like a skin but more porous). This membrane is made of two main molecules, phosphate and fat. They are able to hook together keeping the inside of the cell separate from the outside, allowing pretty much all life to exist.

Now here's where fish oil comes into play. The type of fat that makes up our cell membranes depends largely on what type of fats you consume. Fish oil happens to be particularly high in a fat class called Omega 3 (n3). This Omega 3 fat is also found in green leafy plants. This fat is basically a fluid fat, very smooth and non ridged, keeping our cells very much the same, allowing for different nutrients in and out much easier.

Omega 6 (n6) is another class of fat, found in grains and many processed foods.

Omega 6 is essentially the opposite of Omega 3. It is much more structurally ridged, giving our cells more of their firmness and structure. Both are good for us when the RATIOS are healthy. Here's the catch: the ratios are supposed to be roughly 1:1 (maybe 1:4) Omega 3 to Omega 6 and IN AMERICA they are typically 1:20 (even as high as 1:40) Omega 3 to Omega 6. THIS IS NOT GOOD!!!

This makes our cells much more ridged; meaning nutrients cannot get in or out of our cells easily (pretty much the definition of DIABETES).

So you can see why these ratios are important, but that is just the beginning.

When we have a ratio of n3 to n6 of 1 to 20 this means that most of the fats that make up our cells are the ridged n6's. Now when our cells break down, like they are supposed to or from injury, what they are made of has a lot to do with their breakdown reaction in our body.

n3 = anti-inflammatory (leading to health-homeostasis) n6 = Inflammatory (leading to lifestyle diseases-adaptive physiology)

EFAs are crucial for proper cell development. The cells of the body are constantly dividing and forming new cells. Fatty acids, especially Omega-3 fatty acids, are incorporated into the membranes of cells. They lubricate the cell; improve flexibility and communication among cells. Cell membranes allow waste materials to pass out of the cell and allow nutrients to move into the cell. When the body does not have adequate levels of Omega-3 fatty acids, it uses components that look similar to Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-6 and Omega-9 can be incorporated into cell membranes if Omega-3 levels are inadequate. This substitution disrupts the delicate balance of the cell membrane. The cell membrane can become more rigid and less permeable to the movement of materials through the cell membrane, which can lead to a host of health concerns including increased systemic inflammation, interruption of neural electrical impulses, decreased functionality of organs and poor tissue repair.

side note: NSAID's or Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs aka aspirin, ibuprofen, Aleve...etc only work if your Omega ratio levels are off because NSAIDS are able to stop the enzyme (Cyclooxygenase II (COX II)) that turns the n6's into inflammatory molecules called prostaglandins (which is also why they cause so much gastrointestinal bleeding and over 16,000 deaths each year because a different form of the same enzyme COX I helps produce the lining that protects the stomach from the acid that digests our food.)

So, the higher the ratio of n6 to n3 you have, the more inflamed (swelling, painful, sensitized, clotting, sticky and stew-like) your body becomes and the earlier you die. As stated by others "you want your body to be like a soup not a stew!!"). Think about this the next time you have a flare-up of your joints (hands, fingers, elbows, shoulders, etc.)

Fish Oil, It's What You Want, Fish Oil affects the Nerve System; you just can't get enough n3's from plants. Ask me which fish oils are the best.



Peter Thibodeau, DC, DACAN, CCWP
Diplomate in Chiropractic Neurology
Certified in Wellness Science by the ICA
Click on the link below for a mathematical expression of health and an explanation for a neurological mechanism of the stress cycle.

1.. http://www.screencast.com/t/4H1vLwNOK


2.. http://www.screencast.com/t/6MFpOTxd




Posted by Peter Thibodeau, DC at 2:15 PM 0 comments
Labels: Health Care, Health Chiropractic Wellness Science, Nutrition