How Much IS The Right Amount?

Some researchers suggest that the perfect ratio is one Omega 3 for every four Omega 6. But they base these figures on enzyme studies in tissue culture.

Some suggest that the traditional Omega 3 to Omega 6 ratio was 1:1. This is untrue. The Inuit ratio was 2.5 : 1 and did not produce Omega 6 deficiency symptoms.

Mediterranean diets are about 1 : 6 without producing Omega 3 deficiency. The brain of both traditions contains a ratio of 1 : 1, indicating that the brain takes what it needs from what the body gets.

In practice, we find that oils richer in Omega 3 (a 2 : 1 ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6) provides the best health support and improvement.

Flax oil is too rich in Omega 3 for the long term, and can lead to Omega 6 deficiency, because Omega 3 and Omega 6 EFAs compete for enzyme space in our cells. When using only Flaxseed oil some experience dry eyes, skipped heart beats and fragile, thin skin, and  others suffered eczema, psoriasis and increased infections. Research now suggests that too much n-3 accompanied by too little n-6 can increase cancer incidence up to 8-fold. This indicates that the n-3:n-6 ratio is one of the most important determiners of whether an oil will heal or kill. (Flax is the richest source of Omega 3 but a poor source of Omega 6). No traditional diet has flax's high ratio of 4:1 Omega 3 to Omega 6.

The Inuit's 2.5:1 ratio is the Omega 3 - richest diet, and serves as nature's measure of the upper limit of safe Omega 3 richness.

There are fats that kill, and fats that heal. We should avoid the first, and make sure that we get the second.

We should not go for low fat diets, but should aim for the Right Fat Diet (TM) , a diet that optimizes intake of the essential fatty acids we need for our cells to function.

Essential fatty acid-rich oils have to be made with great care, because light, oxygen and heat easily destroy them. They should be packaged in a box under nitrogen in dark glass bottles and kept in the refrigerator at all times. Oils of this quality will only be found on the cold food shelf or refrigerator of good health food stores.

In addition to 2 essential fatty acids, health requires optimum amounts of the other essential nutrients - 20 minerals, 14 vitamins and 11 amino acids.

The above four, plus greens, digestive enzymes, probiotics, fibre, antibiotics, phytonutrients, fuel, water, air and light make up the 14 components of health.

For optimum health, we need to optimize our intake of all of them.

For a more detailed discussion on the role of fats and oils in diet, read the books 'Choosing the Right Fats' and 'Fats that Heal, Fats that Kill' by Dr Udo Erasmus, available from any good book store or from:

In the United Kingdom:

Savant Distribution Ltd
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Leeds, LS16 6YY
England

Tel: 08450 60 60 70 (LoCall) Fax 0113 274 5777 email info@savant-health.com  web site: www.savant-health.com

In the Republic of Ireland:

Naturalife Health Ltd
Unit 7, Charvey Court Industrial
Estate, Rathnew, County Wicklow,
Ireland

Tel: 0404 62 444 Fax: 0404 62 448 email info@naturalife.ie  web site: www.naturalife.ie