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>>> Essential Fatty Acids – Part 2



http://juicing-for-health.com/efas-healing-fats.html



Understanding Essential And Healing Fats

Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) are so healing, yet we constantly
deplete the supply and neglect to replenish them in our body,
causing a host of unnecessary health problems.



Part 1 – Understanding Harmful Fats
Part 2 – Understanding Essential and Healing Fats
Part 3 – Good Sources of Essential Fatty Acids



What are Essential Fatty Acids (a.k.a. Healing Fats)?

Our body can manufacture most of the fats it needs, including cholesterol, saturated fats and unsaturated fats. However, there are two families of fatty acids that our body cannot manufacture and have to be obtained in our diet. They are:



Omega-3

Omega-3 fatty acids are a family of unsaturated fatty acid, named such because of their molecular structure which signifies that the first double-bond exists as the third carbon-carbon bond from the terminal methyl end of the carbon chain. The explanation of these molecular structure can get technical so we will not go into it.



The most common forms of omega-3 are alpha-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Perhaps you have seen these acronyms being used to advertise and market milk powder.

Omega-3 is usually derived from fish oils, such as from cod liver, fresh salmon, herring, tuna, mackerel and similar fishes. Omega-3 always stay liquid, whether they are in cold or room temperature. It is said that these fats protect the fish even in very low temperatures.

However, you may not get much of the omega-3 from fish because when fish are prepared and served on the table, most of the omega-3 are probably removed or destroyed. EFAs are very sensitive to heat, and gets destroyed when cooked.

Another excellent source of omega-3 that I want to emphasize on is from flaxseed oil, which is also suitable for vegetarians, but more on this in Part 3 of this series.



Omega-6

Omega-6 fatty acids are another family of the unsaturated fatty acid, which have in common a carbon-carbon double bond in the sixth position from the end of the fatty acid. Notice the molecular structure compared to that of omega-3.



When both omega-3 and 6 fatty acids are present in the body, they are able to manufacture more omega-3, 6 and even 9, therefore, omega-9 is non-essential from the dietary.

The most common forms of omega-6 are linoleic acid which is the shortest-chained fatty acid, and arachidonic acid which is a precursor for making prostaglandins. However, an unbalanced intake of a high ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 in which certain harmful prostaglandins are produced in excess may cause development of many illnesses.

Unfortunately, our modern day diet and people’s ignorance have boost this ratio up the wrong way to as high as 25 parts omega-6 to 1 part omega 3 (25:1).



How Can EFAs Work More Effectively?

Taking EFAs in a balanced ratio by itself can help improve health in so many ways. However, the presence of certain co-factors can help give EFA metabolism the extra boost and work synergistically in a very powerful way. These important co-factors are vitamin B6, A, C and E; and minerals copper, magnesium, selenium and zinc.

Therefore, it is not a coincident that foods that are naturally rich in EFAs are also rich in all these co-factor nutrients. Some examples of these foods are beans, nuts, seeds and seafood. Together with vitamins A and C from fresh vegetables (juice is better), this nutrition group would be complete and can build strong immunity.

In order for your EFAs to work more effectively, we need also to eliminate the nutrient-robbers from our body. Some of the nutrient-robbers are:
¦Milk and dairy products: robs zinc and calcium
¦Trans-fat and saturated fats: interferes with enzymes activities
¦Sugar: increases copper deficiency and leaches magnesium which are excreted in the urine
¦Sodium: constantly depletes magnesium and potassium from the body
¦Phosphates: is an essential mineral but large amounts from processed foods cause the digestive tract to be sluggish, thus preventing absorption of vitamins and minerals
¦Pesticides: interferes with the body’s ability to use vitamin B6
¦Free radicals: deteriorates the body’s immune and defense system



Vital Functions of Essential Fatty Acids

As I did a survey with people around me, I realize that none really know that we need EFAs for so many vital functions in our body. None knows how best to consume EFAs, let alone actually consuming them. And all those I asked, were pretty ignorant about the nutrient-robbers I mentioned above. Is it any wonder that degenerative diseases are so rampant?

EFAs are essential to keep our heart, kidney and digestive system healthy. Our body use EFAs to make prostaglandins that regulate blood clotting, hormone production and reduce inflammation. It can lower triglycerides that are fat in the blood and help increase HDL (good cholesterol).

EFAs also keep blood platelets from being sticky and clumping up, and causing blood clots. The functions of EFAs are a long list, but here is only a brief list:
¦EFAs are vital for the membranes around every cell in our body, including our skin, hair and nails, the body’s outer membrane. It can help eliminate skin problems like scalp or dandruff problems, eczema, psoriasis, severe acne and brittle nails.
¦Together with our body’s natural cholesterol and protein, EFAs work to repair and construct new membranes thus reducing the effects of degeneration.
¦Increase the body’s metabolism in burning fats. Continuous consumption of EFAs also help to lose body fats.
¦Effective for brain development and brain health.
¦Helps lower blood pressure by eradicating plaques from the walls of arteries, preventing atherosclerosis.
¦Reduces aggravation of inflammation from conditions such as arthritis, lupus, gout, and other inflammatory problems.
¦Preventing abnormal blood clotting and help wounds to heal.
¦EFAs assist to regulate the body’s cholesterol level and get rid of excess cholesterol from the blood.
¦Help the body manufacture hemoglobin that is so essential to provide oxygen to every cell in the body. The EFAs are also able to hold oxygen that will help build the body’s defense system, increase metabolic efficiency and converts energy.
¦Shorten recovery time for tired muscles from exercise.
¦Regulates and maintain proper body temperature.
¦EFAs help make prostaglandins that are important to regulate immune functioning which in turn can alleviate allergy symptoms.

The list goes on and on. You see now that EFAs are so vital to the proper functioning of our body?



EFAs Deficiency Symptoms

Many degenerative diseases had been traced to EFAs deficiencies. A lack of the proper EFAs in the dietary can cause many unwanted ailments and symptoms. Researches have found that by daily administering EFAs in the purest form, it had been helpful in treating:
¦Acne
¦Arthritis
¦Asthma
¦Behavioral and personality changes
¦Bipolar disorder
¦Depression
¦Gall bladder dysfunction
¦Heart diseases
¦Impaired motor coordination
¦Infertility
¦Kidney problems
¦Learning disability
¦Lupus
¦Miscarriage
¦Muscle tremors
¦Painful menstruation
¦Poor physical growth
¦Poor vision
¦Schizophrenia
¦Skin disorders – eczema, psoriasis, etc.
¦Slow healing of wounds
¦Thirst due to excessive perspiration

We don’t consciously supply our body with EFAs, yet we quickly deplete the supplies by taking the wrong food. Knowing the functions and the importance of EFAs, shouldn’t we now start taking them?

Next, we need to learn the best sources of EFAs and how to choose the safe EFAs.

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