Omega3s

 Omega 3s are the essential fatty acids which form an important part of cell membranes, they are unable to be synthesized by the body, therefore they must be obtained from the diet. Flaxseed oil is the richest source of Omega-3 essential fatty acids, Omega-3 and Omega-6 cannot be produced by the body and must form an important addition to the diet in order to remain healthy.

It is important to maintain an appropriate balance of omega-3s and omega-6s (another essential fatty acid) in the diet, as these two substances work together to promote health. Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation, and most omega-6 fatty acids tend to promote inflammation. An inappropriate balance of these essential fatty acids contributes to the development of disease while a proper balance helps maintain and even improve health. A healthy diet should consist of roughly 2 - 4 times more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids. The typical American diet tends to contain 14 - 25 times more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids, and many researchers believe this imbalance is a significant factor in the rising rate of inflammatory disorders in the United States.

 Hemp seed oil has been called nature's most perfectly balanced oil by Udo Erasmus, writer of Fats That Heal Fats that Kill. It is a rich source of essential fatty acids, in fact it is the richest  known source of EFAs in the plant kingdom. Hemp oil is a rich source of Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) - Omega 6 linoleic , Omega 3 alpha linolenic and Gamma Linolenic acid (GLA) that are important for optimum health in the body. EFAs cannot be produced by the body itself and are vital for the structure and functions of tissues in the body.

People mostly manage to consume far too much Omega-6, and far too little of Omega-3, hempseed oil has the perfect balance refer to the article   The Omega-3s and Omega-6s are the precursors to the production of prostaglandins, leucotrines, and thromboxanes, the Omega-3 tends to be anti-inflammatory in action, whereas the Omega6 tend more to a proinflammatory action, that is why it's important to achieve an ideal ratio between these two EFAs.

Hemp seed oil is superior to flax oil because it's fatty acid profile is better balanced. It contains Omega-6 and Omega-3 EFAs in a 3 to 1 ratio and it also contains close to 2% GLA which is a major active ingredient in evening primrose and borage oils, the latter having the highest percentage of GLA.It is the presence of these fatty acids in this particular ratio that helps improve skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and acne.
Hemp oil may also benefit other inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

GLA (Gamma-Linolenic Acid), what is it, and where is it found? GLA is part of Omega-6 group of essential fatty acids, the group that most people tend to overconsume, and lots of people now try to avoid believing that these fatty acids are bad for them. Consuming too much of the Omega-6s may not be good for you, however, the health giving , anti-inflammatory properties of GLA should form an important part of everyone's diet, and are most definitely needed by those with inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, and gout.

The best way  to access a rich source of GLA, without taking on board too much Omega6 is to take one of these three oils, or a mixture of all three. The richest source of GLA is Borage oil which contains up to 24%GLA, followed by Black Currant seed oil with 18% GLA, and the Evening Primrose oil with 8% GLA.

Omega-3s , like those found in oily fish such as tuna, salmon, herring, sardines and mackerel, are already known to have many positive health benefits. They are commonly  recommended for maintaining a healthy heart, as they are known to reduce cholesterol levels and thought to help prevent cardiovascular disease. Research suggests that Omega-3 may also protect against arthritis, lupus, and asthma and help people with biopolar disorder.

Essential fatty acids increase metabolic rate, and with increased metabolic rate there is an increased rate of fat burn off, an excellent reason to add flaxseed to the diet if you are overweight. Flaxseed oil has been used to lower high blood pressure, to reduce high triglyceride levels, lower cholesterol, enhance immune function, decrease inflammation, to treat dry skin, eczema, and psorasis.In order to receive the benefits of flaxseed oil, it is essential that it is absolutely fresh, kept out of light, and tightly capped and most importantly kept under refrigeration.. If freshness can't be guaranteed, then it is far better to grind fresh organic flaxseeds as needed to avoid rancidity, the seeds should be kept refrigerated once the seal on the packet has been broken.

 A small study done on a group of women with newly diagnosed breast cancer found that flaxseed  given in the form of daily muffins appeared to slow down the rate of tumour growth. Ground flaxseed contains compounds called phytoestrogens, which apppear to work to lower levels of circulating estrogens which are linked to breast cancer.

Udo Erasmus says: " Flax provides the best therapeutic oil for people with Omega-3 deficiency-related fatty degeneration, because it contains the largest amount of Gamma-linolenic acid, the most strongly dispersing essential fatty acid.Alpha-linolenic acid helps disperse deposits of saturated fatty acids and cholesterol, which like to aggregate and make platelets sticky."

The ability of flaxseed oil to boost immunity, is of significance to those who have arthritis, for arthritis has been linked to a dysfunctional immune system, so it follows that flax would be an important addition to the diet. http://www.sayno2arthritis.com

Read more:Essential Amino Acids