Excess inflammation has become a topic many consumers are now paying attention to. This is a good thing. What is not so good is that many people have gotten the impression that solving the problem is easy. Just avoid a few foods that create inflation and your health will improve. It is not that simple.
The molecular chemistry of the body reminds me of a circus high wire act. It requires a very delicate balance or things can go bad quickly. Our immune system is composed of many things but there are two families of essential fatty acids that require that high wire balance - omega 3s and omega 6s.
On with the show! You cut your knee. The immune system rushes various cells and chemicals to stop the bleeding and start the healing. This is what is called an inflammatory response and it is necessary for our survival. Even though there may be swelling and soreness, order is restored, the bad guys are expelled and the crowd can cheer.
So why do we care about foods that create inflammation?
If we have too many omega 6s and not enough 3s, the high wire act gets very shaky. They are both part of the decision making process in the immune system and our cell membranes. If there are not enough omega 3s then the body does not know when to stop. It keeps responding to what is now a cured problem. All those, now unneeded, cells and chemicals cause problems instead of fixing them. This can result in diseases of the brain, heart, joints and eyes. They are part of every cell membrane so inflammation affects everything in the body to one degree or another.
How do we fix this?
It can be difficult and requires effort. The Western world exists on foods that create inflammation. These are seed based oils [sesame, corn, safflower], butter, grain fed beef, too much sugar, and some dairy products. Also, everything made from these sources is guilty - salad dressings, baked goods, processed foods, candy - you get the picture. We are awash in omega 6s.
Adding omega 3s is easy. More on that in a moment. It is important to reduce the 6s by eating grass fed beef, using olive oil and adding more leafy greens to the diet. Stop eating processed anything, sugar and fast foods. Take a close look at the additives on anything you buy. A batch of chemicals makes the shelf life longer but your lifespan shorter.
The ideal ratio of omega 3s to 6s is one-to-one. Here in the West, it is more like 15-1. The good news is that if you get that ratio down to about 4-1 then the omega 3s will take over and start balancing the high wire again.
The easiest way to add omega 3s is with fish oil supplements. You can also get them with leafy greens, olive oil and grass fed beef - just not enough of them. Remember the 15-1 ratio? We have a lot of catching up to do.
The good news about both omega families is that they are not saturated fats. They will cycle out of the body quickly. If you slow down [not stop, but slow down] the foods that create inflammation and consistently take omega 3 fish oil supplements, subtle improvements will start in thirty days. Good things really start getting going at 60-90 days.
Continue your research by looking into the anti-inflammatory omega 3 products. Remember, fish oil is food, not statin drugs or aspirin. Give your body what it wants on a regular basis and the benefits will come without the side effects. My website can help in this area.
Author Resource:
Get my free five-part mini course on the benefits of omega 3, including critical information on why you should take omega3 fish oil .
To sign up for the course and get more tips on the importance of omega 3, visit my website: http://www.omega-3-guide.com/
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