Miguatemala Health Blog

Archive for the ‘Omega-6 Fatty Acids’ Category

Food and drug watchdog agency the U.S. (FDA) define the content of mercury in fish and recommend eating about 12 ounces of fish or shellfish (about twice the portion of) the low level of mercury per week. Shrimp, salmon, catfish and small cans of tuna, a product of a low mercury content. In addition to Lovaza, a brand of fish oil supplements that have been approved and follow the standard processing of the FDA, there is no omega-3 supplements other FDA regulations refer.

Fish oil supplements is deemed safer than eating fish, because many manufacturers use a lower position of fish in the food chain, so that contaminants can be removed during the distillation process.

Unsafe levels of PCB

2 March, the lawsuit was filed on 10 manufacturers of fish oil because it contains polychlorinated biphenyl or PCB compounds above safe threshold. PCBs are compounds that are prohibited by the U.S. Congress since 1979 after a case linked to birth defects and various forms of cancer. This lawsuit claims the producers are violating California’s Proposition 65 which requires the manufacturer to warn consumers’ total toxins content detected “like PCBs.

Ten brands including Omega Protein and GNC, tested positive for PCBs by the plaintiff Mateel Environment Justice Foundation and two environmental activists. The content on certain products even exceed the set limit California, with 10 risk factors for cancer, said David Roe, plaintiffs’ lawyers.

Although organic compounds are banned since three decades ago, they were still detected in U.S. waters and fish. Eating fish is the most common for PCB exposure. California Office of Environmental Health Hazard estimates that the level of PCBs in fish can be hundreds to thousands times higher than in water.

Council of Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the trade association that represents the supplement industry, responded to the lawsuit as the information is wrong and misleading. PCBs found in the environment everywhere and the whole fish or fish oil supplements at least have a little of this organic compound, said Andrew Shao, CRN senior vice president. Shao said that the plaintiff tried to raise this as a public health problem while fish oil has been used safely for decades.

The other defendants also questioned the basis of accuracy and limitations of testing PCBs in the lawsuit.

Omega-6 fatty acids are considered essential fatty acids: They are necessary for human health but the body can’ t make them — you have to get them through food. Along with omega-3 fatty acids, omega-6 fatty acids play a crucial role in brain function as well as normal growth and development. Also known as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), they help stimulate skin and hair growth, maintain bone health, regulate metabolism, and maintain the reproductive system.

A healthy diet contains a balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation, and some omega-6 fatty acids tend to promote inflammation. The typical American diet tends to contain 14 – 25 times more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids.

The Mediterranean diet, on the other hand, has a healthier balance between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Many studies have shown that people who follow this diet are less likely to develop heart disease. The Mediterranean diet does not include much meat (which is high in omega-6 fatty acids) and emphasizes foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, including whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, olive oil, garlic, as well as moderate wine consumption.

There are several different types of omega-6 fatty acids, and not all promote inflammation. Most omega-6 fatty acids in the diet come from vegetable oils as linoleic acid (LA). Be careful not to confuse this with alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fatty acid. Linoleic acid is converted to gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) in the body. It is then further broken down to arachidonic acid (AA). GLA can be gotten from several plant-based oils including evening primrose oil (EPO), borage oil, and black currant seed oil.

Is it possible that some women get these hormonal symptoms worse?

There is therefore a very small percent of women taking Omega-6 fatty acids are as their symptoms worsen. If only happens the first menstruation or ovulation after taking omega-6 fatty acids is usually a small healing crisis but if it occurs over several periods is possible that your body is rejecting those that do not need this mild estrogenic effect quite the opposite (progesterone). Read the rest of this entry »

Omega-6 fatty acids are becoming highly valued as effective medicine to combat many health problems without side effects.

What are Omega-6 fatty acids?

Omega 6 (especially linoleic acid, gamma-linolenic acid or GLA) is a type of polyunsaturated fat, very healthy that we can only get from food.

Natural sources

Within the food contain Omega 6 fatty acids especially prominent Borage seed, Primrose, Black Currant, sesame, sunflower and walnuts and avocados.