Fats
for the Heart
Some
fats actually help cardiovascular health!
By Artur
Klimaszewsi, MD
Source: Sangsters Natural Living Magazine
Date Published: June 2000
While serving
in the British army during WWII, Hugh Sinclair - one
of the world's greatest nutritional researchers - observed
there was a surprising absence of heart disease among
the Inuit population. This was in spite of the fact
that their diet was extremely high in fat. He concluded
that the type of marine fat in their diet must help
them stay healthy. Thirty years later, he set out to
prove it.
Using himself
as a guinea pig, Sinclair ate only seal and fish for
100 days. Afterwards, he induced the longest bleeding
times ever recorded in Western civilization, excluding
hemophiliacs. Although not a wise experiment, it showed
that consuming marine oils could dramatically change
the properties of blood.
"The Eskimo
Diet Doctor" - as he became known - was not alone in
his studies. In 1970 two Danish scientists, H.O. Bang
and J. Dyerberg, were also astonished by the low occurrences
of heart disease in the Inuit population in Greenland.
Their studies showed that heart disease among native
Greenlanders was consistently much lower than among
the rest of the Danish population. From this the researchers
concluded that a diet rich in marine oils had a profound
effect on people with high blood cholesterol and high
blood triglyceride levels.
Fish oils
contain the Omega-3 essential fatty acids EPA and DHA.
The human body cannot produce these essential fatty
acids, so they must be obtained through food and nutritional
supplements. The recent trend towards a "fat-free" diet
may actually be robbing the body of these "good fats."
Research
has shown that fish oils help in the prevention and
treatment of cardiovascular diseases such as coronary
heart disease, dyslipidemia, arrhythmia and high blood
pressure. Recent evidence links fish and fish oils to
the prevention of ventricular arrhythmias (life-threatening
abnormal electrical conductivity in the heart) and sudden
cardiac death.
Fish oils
are also thought to increase the elasticity of blood
vessels, allowing blood to flow more readily. Studies
suggest that fish oils can produce "thinner blood" allowing
it to flow easily through blood vessels. This helps
reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes from blood
clotting.
Fish Oils
have also shown some benefits in other areas of health
including:
- Infant
brain development where research has shown that DHA
makes up 15-20 per cent of the brain and 30-60 per
cent of the fat in the retina.
- Rheumatoid
arthritis and inflammatory disease
- Immune
system deficiencies
Also some
promising research with fish oils is being done in the
areas of kidney inflammation, lupus, asthma, multiple
sclerosis, and cystic fibrosis.
In most
countries, the average person is deficient in Omega-3
essential fatty acids so it is important to supplement
the diet with these good fats. To get a proper amount
of the Omega-3 essential fatty acids found in fish,
you should supplement your diet with two grams of fish
oil daily in either capsule or liquid form. You can
also add cooked fish to your meal plan two to three
times per week.
Plant
fats for heart health
A unique discovery came out of a seven-country study
into heart disease conducted in 1960. What researchers
found was that the death rate from coronary heart disease
was two to three times lower on the Mediterranean Island
of Crete than most of the rest of Europe and North America.
What made this realization so surprising was that more
than 35 per cent of the calories in the daily Cretan
diet came from fat.
According
to co-researcher Dr. Henry Blackburn, of the University
of Minnesota, the average Cretan diet contained more
than a pound of fruits and vegetables a day, fresh leaves
and salads, breads, fish, nuts and olive oil, but very
little meat. This study was followed up in Lyons, France
where researchers imitated the Cretan diet and gave
it to recent heart-attack victims. The victims' mortality
rate from a second heart attack fell by more than 70
per cent compared to patients who were not on the diet.
One reason
for the Cretans' lower death rate from heart disease
could be traced back to their high intake of essential
fatty acids from the fresh leaves, vegetables, and fish
in their diet. These plant fats are as beneficial to
heart health as fish oils. Plant fats with "heart healthy"
benefits include Borage, Evening Primrose, and Flaxseed
oils.
Borage and
Evening Primrose oils contain Gamma Linolenic Acid,
or "GLA", a good fat from the Omega-6 family. GLA has
been shown to help correct blood cholesterol levels,
and may inhibit the growth of atherosclerotic plaque,
one of the leading causes of heart disease. GLA also
helps to lower blood pressure.
Flaxseed
oil contains another essential fat: Alpha Linolenic
Acid, or "ALA". A growing body of research clearly shows
that ALA is a beneficial dietary supplement for people
who want to reduce their risk of heart attack and atherosclerosis
and maintain a healthy level of blood cholesterol.
Getting
the EFAs you need
It is important to reduce the amount of "bad fats" (saturated
fat and trans-fatty acids) in the diet without depriving
the body of "good fats" (essential fatty acids). Daily
supplementation, therefore, is often needed to ensure
the body receives enough essential fatty acids. A balanced
mix of GLA, and the Omega-3 essential fatty acids ALA,
EPA, and DHA is recommended. A combination of Borage,
Flaxseed and Fish oil contains all necessary essential
fatty acids.
Sangster's
offers a wide range of essential fatty acid products
such as the EFA 3-6-9, which contains a blend of Borage,
Fish, and Flax oils. Sangster's also offers individual
fatty acids in such products as Evening Primrose and
Flaxseed oils.
Disclaimer
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food
and Drug Administration.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat,
cure, or prevent any disease.
Copyright FATSforHEALTH.com. August 2000
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