Why Omega

Some more reasons to make sure you are getting enough Omega-6 fatty acids:

Omega-6 fatty acids are considered essential fatty acids (EFAs), which means that they are essential to human health but cannot be made in the body. For this reason, they must be obtained from food. Omega-3 fatty acids are another important group of essential fatty acids. Together, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids play a crucial role in brain function as well as normal growth and development. EFAs belong to the class of fatty acids called polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). They are generally necessary for stimulating skin and hair growth, maintaining bone health, regulating metabolism, and maintaining reproductive capability.

Deficiencies in EFAs can lead to reduced growth, a scaly rash called dermatitis, infertility, and lack of ability to fight infection and heal wounds. Lack of omega-6 fatty acids, however, is extremely rare in diets of those living in certain Western countries, particularly the United States, as well as Israel. In fact, North American and Israeli diets tend to have too much omega-6, particularly in relation to omega-3 fatty acids. This imbalance contributes to long-term diseases such as heart disease, cancer, asthma, arthritis, and depression. A healthy diet should consist of roughly one omega-3 fatty acids to four omega-6 fatty acids. A typical American diet, however, tends to contain 11 to 30 times more omega-6 than omega-3 fatty acids.
In contrast, a Mediterranean diet is made up of a healthier and more appropriate balance between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. The Mediterranean diet includes a generous amount of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, olive oil, and garlic; plus, there is little meat, which is high in omega-6 fatty acids.
There are several different types of omega-6 fatty acids. Most omega-6 fatty acids are consumed in the diet from vegetable oils as linoleic acid (LA; be careful not to confuse this with alpha-linolenic acid [ALA] which is an omega-3 fatty acid). Linoleic acid is converted to gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) in the body and then further broken down to arachidonic acid (AA). AA can also be consumed directly from meat, and GLA can be ingested from several plant-based oils including evening primrose oil (EPO), borage oil, and black currant seed oil.
Excess amounts of LA and AA are unhealthy because they promote inflammation, thereby leading to several of the diseases described above. In contrast, GLA may actually reduce inflammation. Much of the GLA taken as a supplement is not converted to AA, but rather to a substance called dihomogamma-linolenic acid (DGLA). DGLA competes with AA and prevents the negative inflammatory effects that AA would otherwise cause in the body. In addition, DGLA becomes part of a particular series of substances, called prostaglandins, that can reduce inflammation. Having adequate amounts of certain nutrients in the body (including magnesium, zinc, and vitamins C, B3, and B6) helps promote the conversion of GLA to DGLA rather than AA. It is important to know that many experts feel that the science supporting the use of omega-3 fatty acids to reduce inflammation and prevent diseases is much stronger than the information regarding use of GLA for these purposes.

Linus Pauling Institute

I was researching Essential Fatty Acids and came across this, the Linus Pauling Institute site and figured it was a good overall resource for Essential Fatty Acid Information and I knew Kathy would appreciate it because she's very familiar with these folks.
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/othernuts/omega3fa/
Check it out if your curiousity so begs!

Plenty of Options for Vegans and Veges! (tarians)

As there are a lot of vegans and vegetarians nowadays, especially on the HSU campus, it is important to keep them in mind when discussing sources of Essential Fatty Acids. I have compiled a list of Vegan and Veggie-friendly sources for those who may be interested.
The two polyunsaturated fatty acids that are essential to our body and health are Linoleic Acid and Alpha Linolenic Acid. These two EFAs are necessary for maintaining cell membrane, blood clotting and making prostaglandins. Other functions of these dietary fats are to allow the body to absorb the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K, as well as regulating cholesterol metabolism. Below are some food sources of these two EFAs.

Linoleic Acid (the Omega 6s)
Veggies Flaxseed
Fruit Mustard Seed
Nuts Pumkin Seed
Grains Soya Bean
Seeds Green Leafy Veggies
Oils made from: Grains
Safflower Spirulina
Sunflower Oils made from:
Corn Linseed
Soya Rapeseed
Evening Primrose Soya Bean
Pumkin
Wheatgerm

Alpha Linolenic Acids (the Omega 3s)
Flaxseed
Mustard Seed
Pumkin Seed
Soya Bean
Green Leafy Veggies
Grains
Spirulina
Oils made from:
Linseed
Rapeseed
Soya Bean

Hopefully this list will reassure those out there that are vegetarian or vegan that there are plenty of options for them and that they mustn't skip out on this "essential" part of the diet.

Essential Fatty Acids Defined

I decided it might be helpful for me to put up this link to Wikipedia for a reference point in case anything about EFAs was confusing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/omega-6_fatty_acid

Hope it helps!

Omega 3's: "Essential" for Bone Health!

Omega 3 fatty acids such as EPA aid in increasing levels of calcium in the body. It is a catalyses calcium deposit calcium in the bones and improves their strength. A study also states that people with low levels of certain omega 3's are prone to suffer from bone loss when compared to those with normal levels of these EFA's. A study showed that women who were 65 years and over with osteoporosis that were given EFA suppliments experienced significantly less boneloss over 3 years than those who were given a placebo. Many of them also experienced increased bone density.
All around, EFA's promote healthy bones by adding to density and acting as a catalyst for calcium deposit and increased levels thereof.

EFAs and ADHD

Here's an interesting fact that I just learned while researching EFAs and how they relate to health: Raising levels of essential fatty acids in the diets of those with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder may help to reduce symptoms and behaviors of the condition.

That's good news for parents and teachers everywhere! The study showed low levels of both Omega-3 and Omega-6 in children with ADHD and thus concluded that with replacement of these EFAs to their diets, via food sources or supplimentation, they could lessen or eliminate symptoms caused by the condition. Visit this site for more information: www.umm.edu/altmed/articles
I decided to share this in my blog because sometimes I feel as though I suffer from such a condition, only mildly though. I feel more, though, that the more children I see getting fed a not-so-nutritious diet of sugar, candy, soda and processed foods the more I am able to recognize their behavior as having ADHD tendencies, NO JOKE!! Also, my friend (we'll call him) Superman informed me yesterday after I did my research that he had been supplimenting with salmon oil to reduce his own ADHD behavioral tendencies. This was what really encouraged me to blog about such a topic because it proved to me that it was a very valid topic in relation to health, not only to the bone health but to mental health, as well.

Essential Fatty Acids and Bone Health

Well, now I'm a Blogger and I will be providing information of various kinds to anyone out there who might interested in the functions essential fatty acids serve for the bones and benefits they have for them and the rest of our bodies!