Fuel your life with the purest vitamins
Jan 23rd 2024
Essential Fatty Acids Can Save Your Bones
. . . and are needed by every cell in your body for good health
A recent study in the Journal of Bone Mineral Research done on postmenopausal women found being low in omega 3 fatty acids, as well as having an imbalanced ratio of omega 3s to omega 6 fatty acids, were predictive of hip fractures.
When we talk about essential fatty acids, we are talking about two kinds of fat that the body can’t make on its own, so they must be consumed. They are essential because it’s impossible to live without them. These are the omega 3 fatty acids (normally associated with fish and flax oils) and the omega 6 fatty acids (normally associated with nuts, seeds, vegetable oils and animal fats). For optimal health, we need to consume enough of both, in roughly equal amounts. Unfortunately most people don’t get enough omega 3s – in fact research indicates that 20% of the US population has so little omega-3s in their blood that it can’t even be measured by standard tests. Instead of a healthy ratio of 1:1, the average ratio of omega 3:omega 6 is now around 1:20. This means that most people need to curtail their omega 6 consumption and make a special effort to include more omega 3s.
What the above study found is right in line with what we already know about omega 3s and omega 6s. The researchers found that women with lower levels of omega 3s had a greater risk of having a hip fracture. They also found that the risk of hip fracture almost doubled for the women with the highest omega 6: omega 3 ratios.
If you’ve been on a standard American diet, heavy on meat, vegetable oils and even nuts and seeds, your essential fatty acid ratios are almost guaranteed to be imbalanced, and you are in need of an “oil change.” How to do this? Cut out all processed vegetable oils, greatly reduce meat consumption, be moderate in your nut and seed consumption, and start taking 4 capsules a day of Beyond Health’s EFA Formula along with Udo’s Choice, cod liver oil and/or Fish Oil Formula capsules for added omega 3s while you make the transition. It can take a year or more to complete an “oil change” and get the right omega 3:omega 6 ratio in your blood.
There are certain natural laws that need to be respected if we want to be healthy. Our bodies need enough omega 3 fats in the right balance with omega 6 fats, not just for bones, but for the health of every single cell. It’s essential!