13) TYPE 2 DIABETES SUPPLEMENTS
e) Bad Omega 6 oils
The other types of omega oils are the omega 6 oils. It is estimated our ancestors had a 1 to 1 ratio of omega 3's oils to omega 6's oils in their diet (i.e. our ancestors ate equal amounts of omega 3's and omega 6's). As a whole humans typically now consume a ratio of one part omega 3's to ten parts omega 6's, i.e. far too much omega 6 and far too little omega 3. Some authorities say that level of omega 6's most Americans eat is more than twenty times the level of omega 3's consumed. Safflower, peanut, soybean, sunflower, and corn oils have no appreciable omega 3 oil and a lot of omega 6 oil, so most medical authorities say these oils should be avoided. If one has to use oils for frying and cooking, use small amounts of canola oil (low temperature! don't burn it). Omega 3 oils such as flaxseed oil decompose rapidly into very bad byproducts if used for frying. Again, our Paleolithic ancestors got a lot of omega 3 vegetable oil (linolenic acid) because they ate a lot of uncooked fresh green leafy vegetables and unroasted nuts, all of which have appreciable amounts of omega 3 vegetable oil. Supplements which list "omega 6 oils" or "linoleic acid" as ingredients should be avoided. Excess amounts of omega 6 oils mimic poisoned proteins in that they stiffen cell walls.
From Wikipedia:
Some medical research suggests that excessive levels of n-6 fatty acids, relative to n-3 fatty acids, may increase the probability of a number of diseases and depression.
Modern Western diets typically have ratios of n-6 to n-3 in excess of 10 to 1, some as high as 30 to 1. The optimal ratio is thought to be 4 to 1 or lower.
Excess n-6 fats interfere with the health benefits of n-3 fats; in part because they compete for the same rate-limiting enzymes. A high proportion of n-6 to n-3 fat in the diet shifts the physiological state in the tissues toward the pathogenesis of many diseases: prothrombotic, proinflammatory and proconstrictive.
Chronic excessive production of n-6 eicosanoids is associated with heart attacks, thrombotic stroke, arrhythmia, arthritis, osteoporosis, inflammation, mood disorders and cancer. Many of the medications used to treat and manage these conditions work by blocking the effects of the potent n-6 fat, arachidonic acid. Many steps in formation and action of n-6 hormones from n-6 arachidonic acid proceed more vigorously than the corresponding competitive steps in formation and action of n-3 hormones from n-3 eicosapentaenoic acid. The COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitor medications, used to treat inflammation and pain, work by preventing the COX enzymes from turning arachidonic acid into inflammatory compounds. (See Cyclooxygenase for more information.) The LOX inhibitor medications often used to treat asthma, work by preventing the LOX enzyme from converting arachidonic acid into the leukotrienes. Many of the anti-mania medications used to treat bipolar disorder work by targeting the arachidonic acid cascade in the brain.
The animal omega 6 oil is arachidonic acid. Arachidonic acid is not found in plants, but all meat contains it, the amount required by a human is not a lot and the human body can convert the vegetable omega 6 acid to arachidonic acid. As an aside, for those of you with pets; dogs and cats require very high levels of arachidonic acid and lack the ability to convert vegetable linoleic acid oils to meat derived arachidonic acid oils. Dogs and cats should be fed a diet of 60 to 100% meat. Canned tuna and canned salmon are the best foods by far for both cats and dogs. Vegetable proteins and oils (Corn meal, rice, wheat, soybean products, wheat gluten) are cheap but they don't supply the arachidonic acid needed by carnivores such as the dog and the cat. These cheap ingredients are also poorly regulated, as witness the 2007 pet poisonings by an ingredient found in wheat gluten from China. It is not a bad idea to cook your own dog food from rice (40%), cheap fatty hamburger(40%), albacore tuna fish (10%) canned spinach (5%) and canned carrots (5%) with a sprinkling of bone meal from the health food store (percentages are by weight with the rice being dry). For cats or if you want a healthier dog replace half of the rice amount with fish (if you can afford it, use salmon).
Current Chapter: 13) TYPE 2 DIABETES SUPPLEMENTS
a) Introduction
b) The Benefits of Fish Oil
c) Issues with Fish Oil
d) Flax Seed Oil
e) Bad Omega 6 oils
f) Nuts and Phytosterols
g) Aspirin Therapy
h) Magnesium
i) Vitamins C, D and E
j) High Water Intake© Copyright 2009 All Rights Reserved.