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There is such a
thing as "good fat"
Today's popular diets preach a "low fat, no fat, bad
fat" philosophy. But did you know that there is such
a thing as "good fat"? Good fats do indeed exist and
they are as important to human health as other vitamins
and minerals. Some good fats are called "essential fatty
acids" (EFAs). Why? Because they truly are essential.
The discovery of essential fats goes back to 1929 and
the work of husband-and-wife research team George and
Mildred Burr. The couple's research on animals showed
that a lack of essential fats in the diet created skin
problems such as dryness, scales and swelling. They
also observed damage to internal organs as the deficiency
progressed. When these symptoms were left untreated,
the animals eventually died.
In 1956, another researcher furthered our understanding
of essential fats with a letter published in The
Lancet, one of the world's most prestigious medical
journals. The author, Hugh Sinclair, claimed that most
of the world's so-called "diseases of civilization"
- coronary heart disease, cancer, diabetes, inflammation,
strokes and skin disease - were caused by a disturbance
in fat metabolism.
Sinclair, who dedicated his life to the study of nutrition
and the role of essential fatty acids in human health
observed that, in spite of improvements in medicine
and standard of living, the life expectancy of a 50-year-old
man had not changed since the middle of the 19th century.
He theorized that the major reason for this was because
the typical Western diet was full of processed foods,
saturated fats and trans-fatty acids ("bad fats"), but
severely lacking in essential fatty acids ("good fats").
Although Sinclair was ridiculed at the time, modern
science has discovered that his theories were, indeed,
correct. We know today that essential fatty acids (EFAs)
profoundly influence the health of the human body. Research
with essential fatty acid supplementation has shown
promise in a number of areas including:
- cardiovascular health
- diabetes
- rheumatoid arthritis
- skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis
- brain function
- infant development
- immune function
- cancer prevention
Although the recent trend has been towards a more "fat-free"
diet we now understand that some fat is actually essential
to human well being. The body needs essential fatty
acids just like it needs other essential vitamins and
minerals to help prevent and treat numerous diseases.
Essential fatty acids are also required by the body
to control a large number of cellular processes. Essential
fatty acids must be obtained through food and nutritional
supplements to maintain good health.
Almost 50 years ago, Sinclair was ridiculed for his
theory on fats, but with the discoveries of modern science,
he is now recognized and praised for insights that were
far ahead of his time.
The EFA Family
Physiologically speaking, there are two fatty acids
that are truly "essential". These are Linoleic Acid
(LA) and Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA). The body cannot
manufacture these fats itself, yet they are essential
for health. A healthy body uses LA and ALA to produce
other fatty acids, which, in turn, produce a host of
beneficial compounds called eicosanoids. The derivative
fatty acids each play specific roles in the maintenance
of good health and we generally include them when we
talk about "essential fatty acids". The derivative fatty
acids include: Gamma Linolenic Acid, Eicosapentaenoic
Acid (EPA), and Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA). There is
one other derivative of Linoleic Acid that isn't always
a good fat, but it, too, is necessary in small amounts:
Arachidonic Acid.
Click
to view more details about each fatty acid
Getting the right
fats
The average North American typically gets an excess
of Linoleic Acid from processed foods, margarine and
vegetable oils.
However, many factors of our modern lifestyle hamper
the body's ability to convert Linoleic Acid into the
beneficial derivative, GLA: consumption of sugar, alcohol,
saturated fats and trans-fatty acids, diabetes, aging,
stress, prescription medications, and viral infections
to name a few. Insufficient quantities of zinc, magnesium,
and vitamins B6, C, and niacin also slow the process.
At the same time, we get very little of the omega-3s,
ALA, EPA and DHA.
Modifications to the diet combined with supplemental
oils are the best ways to make sure you get a healthy
balance of the right fats.
Diet tips:
- cut down your Linoleic Acid intake by eating less processed food,
margarine and vegetable oils such as corn and sunflower oils
- cut down your saturated fat intake by eating less fatty red meats,
dairy products such as whole milk and butter, and deep fried foods
- increase your EPA and DHA intake by eating more fatty fish such
as salmon, mackerel, sardines, and tuna
- increase your ALA intake by adding milled flax seed to salads and
breads
 Supplementation
with EFA oils:
In addition to modifications to the diet, daily supplementation
with GLA, ALA, EPA and DHA is the best way to ensure
that you receive the health-protecting benefits of essential
fatty acids.
Supplementatal sources of these essential fatty acids
include:
- evening primrose oil and borage oil for GLA
- flax oil for ALA
- fish oils for EPA and DHA
A daily supplement that combines all the essential fatty acids in one
convenient capsule is a healthy choice for most people. Similar to a "multivitamin"
this supplement should contain a balanced blend of borage, flax and fish
oils. See Product Guide for
more information about multi-EFA products.
These oils are available in soft gelatin capsules that
are convenient, easy to swallow and keep the oil fresh.
Supplementation with high doses of individual EFAs can
have therapeutic benefits. See EFAs
and Disease for more information on the therapeutic
benefits of essential fatty acids.
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