The human diet today is vastly different from that of our ancestors. For early mankind, hunting, fishing, and food gathering were a survival imperative, and, as a consequence, human beings evolved on “natural” foods. These foods supplied a diet that was low in total fat and saturated fat, but contained a balance of omega-6 and omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs).
For most of the time humans have been on earth, we have eaten foods containing omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids in a ratio of about 2:1. In recent millennia, the emphasis moved away from hunting/gathering towards cultivating the land, but the greatest dietary changes have occurred in approximately the last 50 years. As a result of our increasing reliance on cereals, processed foods, and most significantly, vegetable oils and spreads, coupled with a decreased consumption of oily fish and grass-fed meat, today this ratio is at least 10-20:1. Today, modern Western diets are thereby deficient in omega-3 fatty acids compared with the diet on which humans evolved and their genetic patterns were established.
Both omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids are essential, but the body requires them in a ratio that is not normally achieved by the typical diet of today’s industrialized nations. Experts think that man evolved on a diet that would have had roughly 1-2 times more omega-6 than omega-3 though there is a school of thought that argues for a 1:1 ratio.
Because of their wide-ranging roles, virtually every area of the human body is susceptible to problems if the balance of the two polyunsaturated fatty acids is disrupted. The point at which this imbalance becomes a problem is not yet known, and in practice, will probably vary from person to person. Nevertheless, it is more than reasonable to assume that general health would be greatly enhanced by the reduction of omega-6 consumption and the increase of omega-3 EFA consumption to restore the balance that nature intended.
Omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs) provide energy, and their caloric value is similar to other fats and oils, but unlike saturated fats, they have important health roles. As their name suggests, they are essential and must be consumed daily because the body cannot produce them and has limited storage for them. It has been shown that omega-3 EFAs are involved in normal physiology including:
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Regulating bodily secretions and their viscosity
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Dilating or constricting blood vessels, and helps in regulating blood pressure
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Regulating collateral circulation
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Directing endocrine hormones to their target cells
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Regulating smooth muscles and autonomic reflexes
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Being primary constituents of cell membranes
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Regulating the rate of cell division
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Maintaining the fluidity and rigidity of cell membranes
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Regulating the inflow and outflow of substances to and from cells
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Transporting oxygen from red blood cells to the tissues
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Maintaining proper kidney function and fluid balance
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Keeping saturated fats mobile in the blood stream
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Preventing blood cells from clumping together
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Mediating the release of inflammatory substances from cells that may trigger allergic conditions
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Regulating nerve transmission and communication
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Maintaining normal neurological function especially in the brain and retina
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Regulating the formation of new tissue with emphasis on growth and development (prenatal, newborns, and beyond)
Thus, a diet deficient in omega-3 EFAs may contribute to the onset of certain long-term degenerative illnesses or conditions (and is the sixth leading cause of death in North America):
In chronic illness, it has been shown that an increase in the omega-3 EFAs of marine origin can improve a range of conditions, both physical and mental. Research is continually producing positive findings supporting the use of omega-3s for a variety of health conditions.
Choosing the right omega-3 ensures you receive necessary nutrients for optimal relief of certain symptoms and overall well-being. Omega-3’s rich in EPA and DHA in their natural triglyceride form provide an excellent natural approach to general wellness. PRN Canada provides the purest, most therapeutically potent omega-3 based nutriceuticals possible. All of PRN’s omega-3 based products, when taken as recommended, deliver a therapeutic amount of omega-3 EPA and DHA as recommended by the American Heart Association.