First, I want to make sure you know, I am not anywhere near an expert on nutrition. I am and probably always will be a student of “food science.” I read, I observe, I listen, and I question. I am my own guinea pig. When there’s enough good information, I want to make sure you’ve had access to it. So I’ll be doing a few posts when I get the information organized!
There has been a lot of talk about Omega 3, but I’m sure the entire picture is still evolving. I am convinced that a deficiency of Omega 3 and an overabundance of Omega 6 have become major players in the disease process. And I don’t think it’s simple to correct anymore. One reason, I think, is because the quality of soil has changed dramatically. It’s very difficult, if not impossible, to get the nutrients we need from commercially produced food, and I’m talking raw ingredients. Once you get in the realm of processed foods, practically all nutritional value is gone, so in essence you are eating nothing – not nothing in calories, but nothing your body can use to repair and regenerate.
I’ve found there isn’t an abundance of good information about this. Recently I’ve listened to some lectures by UCTV (University of California) and am still in the process of continuing that. On the Science channel, a program recently aired “Will We Become Extinct?” that had some interesting information on the impact of commercial chicken farming. An article that might be helpful is from the University of Maryland Medical Center, Omega-3 Fatty Acids. One of the points I’d like to mention, after doing a little research, is that flax seed and oil do not have Omega 3 in a form that can be readily used by most adults, chia seed is a much better source. Here’s my disclaimer – I have no stock or interest in any chia company, including Chia Pets, etc!!! And as for fish oil supplements, again quality is everything. If the manufacturer mixes soy oil as the carrier of the Omega 3, you’ve kind of cancelled the effects because soy oil is very low quality and very high in Omega 6. And here’s the kicker – now supplement makers do not have to tell you if there’s soy in the product, because the soy allergen has allegedly been removed. Yes I know Dr. Oz recommends soy along with a lot of nutritionists, etc. And in theory, it’s all true, but it’s true of the unadulterated soy (the heirloom variety) of which little to none is on the commercial marketplace. After spending several years as a vegetarian and loving all things soy, now I avoid it as much as possible. I was reading labels long before food industries started putting everything soy (soy oil, soy flour, etc.) into the food supply, so I noticed. For more information about soy, click here for links in previous post.
Another article with a little info on Omega 3 and a lot of help with allergies is: Natural Solutions for Easing Your Pollen Allergies.
Wouldn’t it be interesting if some of the roots of the “obesity” problem are because the food products most available to us, don’t provide us with the necessary nutrients? So in an attempt to get the nutrients, we eat more, but we eat more of the same things that didn’t have the nutrients to begin with. Kind of a vicious cycle. And while fingers are being pointed at sugar, corn syrup, fat, and on and on – it really could be on a much more basic level, but more encompassing. That has a little shiver-down-my-spine factor to it.