Our Hunter-Gatherer Ancestors got their fats naturally from an abundance of plant foods like vegetables, fruits, algae, nuts and seeds; and when available from seafood and land animals that fed on plants. The diet that humans were designed to eat supplied just the right fatty acid balance. Although they don't seem fatty - all plant foods contain traces of both the essential fatty acids, and our ancestors ancient menu provided roughly the same amounts of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. Basically a balance of about one-to-one.
A Balancing Act
Our bodies need the right ratio of two kinds of polyunsaturated fats - the omega-3 fats and the omega-6 fats. These two fats are called 'essential' fatty acids, meaning we need to eat them because our body cannot make them. In the right balance these fatty acids serve important functions in the body like supporting growth, vision and brain function.
So what really happens if they are not in the right balance? When the omega-6 fatty acids are broken down they produce chemical messengers that can promote inflammation that has damaging effects of virtually every system in our body. Conversely, when omega-3 fatty acids are broken down the end products are anti-inflammatory and protective. Keeping these two processes in balance is vital.
What Happened?
Our food supply has changed so dramatically over the last 150 years that we now eat about 15 times MORE omega-6 fats than omega-3 fats, totally throwing off the ideal balance. Remember the ratio should be about one-to-one!
Why has this happened?
Simply because of the wide-spread availability of grain-based oils, particularly corn oil. Corn Oil is one of the richest sources of omega-6 fats. Foods like chips, salad dressings, vegetable oils, candies, cookies, pastries, cereals, french fries and many other fast food favorites are loaded with the omega-6 fats.
Good Insurance
What kinds of foods will provide the omega-3 fatty acids? Think about foods straight from nature - foods like fruits, vegetables, tree nuts such as almonds and walnuts. Eating wild caught seafood is also high in omega-3 fatty acids. But please avoid any fish that says farm-raised! Why? Fish or seafood that is farm raised is fed guess what? Good old corn - high in omega-6 fats!
Another way to ensure your body is getting enough omega-3 fats is to supplement with a high-quality fish oil, like Herbalife's product "Herbalifeline". How do you know if the fish-oil supplement is quality? Place the capsule in the freezer and if it freezes it means it is not total fish-oil, it is loaded with 'fillers'. Fish-oil does not freeze!
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