HEALTHY FAT PREVENTS ALZHEIMERS AND OTHER DEGENERATIVE DISEASE

There are many benefits to adding more healthy fat to our diet. The typical American diet of highly processed foods is deficient in the healthy fats our bodies need to support our overall health.

Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. (1). The latest medical thinking is that the escalating rate of Alzheimer’s disease has it’s beginning in chronic inflammation resulting from a diet that is deficient in omega 3 fatty acids, which is one of the 3 essential fatty acids (EFA's) that we must get from our food. EFA’s are known to be highly anti-inflammatory and omega 3 specifically is found in cold water fish such as salmon. Walnuts are also a good source of the omega 3 fatty acid. Of the three fatty acids that we need to get from our food omega 3 is the one that we are most deficient in with the standard American diet. Omega 6 and 9 are found more in processed, frozen and pre-packaged foods.

According to the American Academy of Neurology, people who eat large amounts of foods with Omega 3 fatty acids and other important vitamins like the B vitamins and vitamin C, D, and E have sharper cognitive abilities. In contrast, people with diets high in trans-fats which are found in packaged, fast, fried and frozen foods and margarine spreads were more likely to show shrinking brain tissue that’s linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

Omega 3 in form of EPA (one of its two forms) is noted as being of great support in helping individuals get off their psychiatric medications. Research supports the use of omega 3 in the treatment of depression (2).

The role that omega 3 plays in ASD (autism spectrum disorders) is highly recognized by researchers and natural health care professionals. The Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology did a study. The children were given 1 gram of omega 3 fatty acid for 12 weeks. 80% of the children showed significant improvement in behavior and cognitive function. Don't you think those are pretty good statistics from 1 one supplement being added to their diet (3)?

There is also evidence that essential fatty acids in the proper ratio will help individuals with certain food cravings and assist them in losing weight. The fact that we need these fats in our diet explains partly why so many people have cravings for junk food like fried foods or chips. Our bodies are starving and we need the fats for health. The main point of this article is to show the importance of nutrition to our health and the role these nutrients play in preventing degenerative disease in humans. If millions of people in the US are suffering from AD and 1 out of 50 kids are on the autism spectrum and we are the most obese nation in the world and 25% of the females in this country are on anti-depressants, it’s probably a really good time to start taking the importance of nutrition and supplementation seriously. One of my favorite ways to get the extra EFA’s in my diet is to supplement with cold organic hemp oil. Putting a couple of tablespoons in a protein shake or sprinkling the oil over a salad is a great way to get the best ratio of EFA’s in your diet.

Sources:

1. Alzheimers Association statistics
2. www.pubmed.gov, Robert L.j. et al. Neurology 1993, Natural news Nov 2006
3. Journal of Child and Adolescent psychopharmacology 2009