Did you know what are commonly referred to as essential fatty acids are those fatty acids that cannot be constructed in an organism from other components via any known chemical pathways? The term essential refers to those fatty acids that are involved in various biological processes in the body. These nutrients must be gathered from our diets, and we must take care that we have the correct balance between n3 and n6 fatty acids.
Both of these families of fatty acids are essential to the proper function of the body, but you must take care that you are taking in equal or higher levels of n3 fatty acids to n6. Both of these families cause inflammation, with n3 fatty acids being the less inflammatory of the two. Some inflammation is necessary for productive immune system function, but too much inflammation can lead to disease.
Both of these essential fatty acids are vying to be the chosen inflammatory agent that the immune system uses to heal. The problem with n6 fatty acids is that they do not have an “off switch”, and so when the healing is done the inflammation continues at full strength. This constant inflammation leads to the development of chronic diseases such as heart disease, allergies and asthma, and arthritis.
N3 fatty acids are considered less inflammatory that n6 fatty acids, because when the healing is done they simply stop attacking the areas where the illness or injury occurred. This is why it is recommended that your focus be on increasing the amount of omega-3s in your diet, so that they will be the predominant fatty acid used by the body. High levels of DHA and EPA omega-3s has been shown to produce some truly wonderful disease preventative benefits.
It has been proven that high levels of DHA and EPA omega-3 essential fatty acids prevent the development of a variety of common ailments. These include cardiovascular disease, mental disorders, allergies, asthma, arthritis, and gout. Omega-3s have also been found beneficial in the treatment of diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and in colon, prostate, and breast cancer.
So far as the effect these essential nutrients have on your mental function, they have been proven to help manage depression, ADHD, aggressive behavior, and suicidal tendencies. They have also been shown to prevent the formation of the amyloid plaque that is a primary precursor to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. It is suspected that the prevention of Parkinson’s disease is also possible.
In order to guarantee that you are getting sufficient amounts of DHA and EPA essential fatty acids in your diet, you must use a high quality dietary supplement. Raising the level of these omega-3s through increasing the amount of fish in your diet is not an option, because of the toxins present in these fish. A process of molecular distillation must be performed on the oil, in order to ensure its purity.
Make no mistake about it. It is simply amazing what a significant increase in DHA and EPA omega-3 essential fatty acids can do for you. Take advantage of these benefits by getting your hands on a high quality DHA rich dietary fish oil supplement as soon as you are able.
Laurel Cohen is a strong advocate of natural health in all its forms: skin care, supplementation, and farm fresh foods. She enjoys introducing people to the best natural products she can find and uses herself daily. Visit her site http://www.omega-3-for-health.com to learn about the omega 3 fish oils Laurel uses daily for optimal health. Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/why-you-need-the-correct-balance-of-essential-fatty-acids-1412564.html
