In this day and age of fat phobia and the resultant barrage of low fat and non-fat food products lining the grocery store aisles, a recommendation to supplement your daily diet with one to two tablespoons of essential fatty acid rich oil would appear to go against the grain. To the contrary, this is exactly what health conscious consumers are doing across the country, not only to attain and maintain optimal health, but in many instances, as a treatment for the over 60 health ailments the essential fatty acids have been scientifically validated to benefit.

While it is true Americans should not consume more than 20-30% of daily calories as fats, a lack of the dietary essential fatty acids has been

suggested to facilitate degenerative disease. If surveys are correct that approximately 80% of our population is deficient in the essential fatty acids, this may present a serious health threat. Unfortunately, mass commercial refinement of fats and oils products and foods containing them has effectively eliminated the essential fatty acids from our food chain, contributing to our modern day deficiency.

Organic, unrefined flaxseed oil is considered by .many to be the answer to this health dilemma. Oil extracted from organic flaxseeds is unique because it contains both essential fatty acids: alphalinolenic, an Omega-3 fatty acid, and linoleic acid, an Omega-6 fatty acid, in appreciable amounts. Flaxseed oil is the world's richest source of Omega-3 fatty acids at a whopping 57% (over two times the amount of Omega-3 fatty acids as fish oils). Omega-3 fatty acids have been extensively studied for their beneficial effects toward: high cholesterol levels .stroke and heart attack .angina (heart pain) high blood pressure arthritis multiple sclerosis psoriasis and eczema cancer

The high content of Omega-3 fatty acids inherent in flaxseed oil is but one of its positive attributes. The essential fatty acids combined here have proven to impart a regulatory function on the body's fatty acid metabolism.. Fat metabolism is as important, if not more critical, than our body's metabolism of proteins and carbohydrates as evidenced by the drastic rise in fat related degenerative diseases, such as vascular disease and strokes. Dietary essential fatty acids common to flaxseed oil are ultimately converted to hormone- like substances known as prostaglandins, and are important for the regulation of a host of bodily functions including:  pain, and swelling .joints or blood vessels .J membranes, inflammation pressure in the eye, secretions from mucus their viscosity, smooth muscle and gastroimentinal, water retention blood clotting ability allergic response and nerve transmission.

.Zinc, sometimes have the Omega-6 fatty acid other seeds oils to the healthful. still others are thought to lack the necessary enzyme (catalyst) particularly those affected cystic fibrosis, multiple sclerosis, and the aged. steroid production and hormone synthesis

Scientists continue to discover regulating effects of prostaglandins. Without the essential fatty acids-the building blocks of prostaglandins -a malfunction of fat metabolism is certain, as

are problems in the regulation of the above listed bodily functions.

For some individuals, flaxseed oil may offer only half of the solution. Those deficient in cofactor nutrients, specifically the vitamins pro-A1 A1 C1 E1 B21 B61 pantothenic acid, B121 biotin, and the minerals calcium, magnesium, potassium, sulfur, and --' L-' , difficulty in converting '1 linoleic acid, found in flax 1 prostaglandins.

autonomic reflexes- , , arterial, ear, heart

rheumatoid arthritis

and

to make this conversion;

with diabetes, asthma, .} alcoholism and

those suffering from co-factor deficiencies, a broad spectrum multi-vitamin and mineral may be recommended with, perhaps, an oil supplement rich in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). Individuals who may lack the proper enzyme system would require a GLA supplement in addition to the flaxseed oil to effectively skip over the absent or impaired enzyme and continue on toward normal production of beneficial prostaglandins.

Nature's most potent concentration of GLA comes in the form of organic borage seed oil (24%). A great deal of scientific research has been conducted with supplements rich in GLA, resulting in significant interest regarding the aforementioned health ailments, as well as those affected by premenstrual syndrome, benign breast disease, eczema, psoriasis, obesity, and vascular

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