LIVINGLIVING
disease. Other omega-6s are less wanted,
as 6s use the same pathways as 3s and
can swamp the omega-3 pathway.
Professor Michael Crawford has been
studying the impact of essential fatty acids
on mental health and says, "Diet matters
all the way through one's lifetime and
people are missing out on the fact that
omega oils are vital. It is not the amount of
fat but the balance of fats. There needs to
be a harmony in the diet like an orchestra,
so you need everything in the right
proportion. Holistic diets are important;
we should eat widely without an emphasis
of too much of one thing, like fat or sugar.
However, we have to take action with our
consumption of omega-3s. Our bodies
are slow to manufacture it, so it is best to
eat it direct from marine foods."
Low levels of omega-3 has been linked
to the increased diagnoses of depression
and linked to other medical conditions
such as Alzheimers, and noticeably,
people are developing Alzheimer's in their
60s now not in their 70s or 80s. There
is medical proof that human brains have
actually shrunk over time and it could be
due to omega-3 deficiencies in the diet.
"One of the facts of society today
is that we are living longer, women
in particular, but the quality of life is
fairly crappy, particularly at the end,
says Crawford, who has studied the
development of the human brain from
birth. He says, "The brain is made up of
fat, so it is not rocket science to figure out
the link. If you screw up dietary fat then
the brain is affected. Mental ill-health is
now a huge burden in modern society in
the UK and in the USA."
Cod piece
In World War II in Britain fish and seafood
were not rationed. Milk, orange juice and
cod liver oil were delivered free to people's
doors to keep their health up. Then, when
the war ended, mass production took
over to get protein in the diet from farming
All omega fatty acids play specific roles in overall health.
These good fats can have health benefits, including:
• Prevent coronary heart disease
• Prevent stroke
• Prevent diabetes
• Promote healthy nerve activity
• Improve vitamin absorption
• Maintain a healthy immune system
• Promote cell development