Paul's Notes: ALERT - Balance your EFAs

Now we know that the body requires both Omega 6 and Omega 3 Fatty Acids to be healthy. The latest information says we need to supplement or eat lots of Omega 3 EFA’s and no mention of Omega 6’s because we’ve been getting too many of these vegetable oils.

The truth of the matter is not always that simple. The problem has been that people have been eating too many Omega 6 processed oils from grocery stores that are either partially hydrogenated (bad trans fats) and/or biologically dead oils that will not convert to Omega 6 derivatives to form eicosanoids (i.e. Prostaglandin 1), therefore we need both Omega 6 and Omega 3 biologically active oils in our diets to repair and reverse many of today’s degenerative diseases.

Let’s look back in history to the last century for clues as to why the need for both Omegas. Dr. Joanna Budwig literally raised people from the ‘dead’ in the 1940’s by giving patients both butter (Omega 6) and cod liver oil (Omega 3). History shows that she often wondered why cod liver oil didn’t work on it’s own.

Thanks to research in the 1970’s and 1980’s by Dr. David Horrobin – the father of clinical medicine for EFA’s - we know that to balance eicosanoids, we need both Omega 6 and Omega 3’s since they work off the same enzyme chain. Too much of either Omega chain will utilize the enzymes and leave a deficiency of the other critical Omega.

A ‘famous’ experiment by Horrobin’s mentor Dr. Hugh Sinclair proved this point dramatically. For 3 months Dr. Sinclair ate seal meat as his source of dietary fat - in 3 months he was infertile (his sperm count dropped to zero) and his bleeding time went from 3 – 4 minutes to 40-50 minutes. This would not happen to the Inuit. The lesson here is – eat the fats and oils directly from nature that you evolved with – don’t make radical changes in your diet overnight.

The goal with EFA’s in our diet is to restore cell membrane integrity and balance our eicosanoids.

Scientists cannot agree on the ratios of Omega 6 and 3’s that we need today to be healthy. The fact is that due to today’s lifestyle, stress, nutritionally depleted foods, global travel and toxic environments the human species are not readily converting Omega 6 and 3 Fatty Acids into the derivatives our cell membranes need to regulate our health.

The Omega 3 Pathway starts with Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA) 18:3n-3 from flax oil, grains and green leafy vegetables. This is converted by the Delta 6 Desaturase (D6D) to Octadecatetraenoic acid 18:4n-3. This is then processed by the elongase enzyme to Eicosatetraenoic Acid 20:4n-3. This is then processed by the Delta 5 Desaturase (D5D) to Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) 20:5n-3. This is turn is reprocessed into Prosaglandin 3's which protect against Heart Attack, Stroke and inflammatory diseases such as Arthritis, Lupus and Asthma. The EPA is processed by the Delta 4 Desaturase (D4D) to make Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) 22-6n:3. This is needed for development and function of the brain. Our stressful lifestyle plus environmental toxic chemicals sometimes inhibit the D6D, D5D and D4D Desaturases. When we take fish oil we get EPA and DHA directly and assure ourselves of a proper supply.

The Omega 6 Pathway starts with Linoleic Acid (LA) 18:2n-6 from soy, corn, cottonseed and safflower oils. This is converted by the Delta 6 Desaturase (D6D) to Gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA) 18:3n-6. (Available directly from Evening Primrose Oil.) This is processed by the elongase enzyme to Dihomo-gamma-linolenic Acid (DGLA) 20:3n-6. (Available directly from liver and other organ meats.) This in turn is converted to the Series 1 Prostaglandins which control inflammation and swelling. The DGLA is converted by the Delta 4 Desaturase (D4D) to Arachidonic Acid (AA) 20:4n-6. (Available directly from butter, lard, animal fats, organ meat, egg yolks and sea weed.) The Arachidonic Acid (AA) is then converted to Series 2 Prostagladins which are important for inducing birth, regulating temperature, lowering blood pressure and regulating platelet aggregation. Again our stressful lifestyle and environmental toxic chemicals sometimes inhibit these processes so it is wise to get your GLA directly from Evening Primrose Oil and AA directly from butter, liver and egg yolks. Learn more from the article Tripping Lightly down the Prostaglandin Pathways by Dr. Mary P. Enig

To balance your Omega 3 and Omega 6 oils, take Omega 3 derivatives (EPA/DHA Fish oil) with Omega 6 derivatives (GLA Evening Primrose oil). The ultimate balance according to Dr. David Horrobin to maximize PGE 1, raise PGE 3 and suppress PGE 2 is simply 2 parts GLA to 1 part EPA. This approximates to 3 Efamol- Evening Primrose Oil 1000mg capsules and 1 Wild Salmon oil 1000mg capsule per day. This combination is available out of the UK in a product called Efamarine. Sprinkle this formula with the fats your grandparents ate regularly, add a good multi-vitamin/mineral complex for all the EFA co-factors (zinc, magnesium, calcium, B’s, vitamin C) increase fresh fruits and vegetables (especially flavanoids to protect the fats) and watch your health soar! You will feel and look younger with more moisturized skin and increased hair growth.

In Closing - do your homework- balance is the key- don’t forget your Omega 6 derivatives with your Omega 3 fish oil. Ref. www.efamol.com www.westonaprice.org/knowyourfats

Paul F. Beatty – B.A. BPHE, MBA. Tel. 905-648-6887, Email: efapaul@yahoo.ca
Susan Nicholas at 905 337 3634, Email: snicholas1@cogeco.ca
or Web: yourhealthandmine.net

Your Health and Mine