Friday, November 25, 2005

Fish, fowl or nuts?

Tim:

Like so much information about nutrition, there is lots of jargon. Much of it is intimidating to a layman like me. Omega-3 Fatty Acids is one such term. Here's what Wikipedia says about them. It's quite complex, but the important part is that:

They are essential in the human diet since they cannot be synthesized by the body; and

The essential fatty acids are very important for our immune system and to help us regulate our blood pressure, since they are used to make compounds such as prostaglandins.

Modern diets are high in one type of fatty acid - Omega-6 - and low in Omega-3s. This imbalance has potential consequences, for both cardiovascular health, and mental health. New research shows in increased risk of depression with such an imbalance. Omega-6s are found in abundance in red meat, poultry, refined grains, and certain fats such as corn oil and margarine. Balance your intake of these foods with your intake of Omega-3s found in fatty fish, canola oil, flaxseeds, soybeans, and nuts.

Remember: the body cannot produce these critical substances; we must obtain them from food, or supplements, and try to keep them in balance.

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