Good Fats? by Wendi Lindsay, CN In 1900, only 1 in 7 people died of cardiovascular disease and only 1 in 30 of cancer. Today more than two-thirds of the deaths in the US involve nutrition! One major change since that time is in the kinds of fats we eat, the amounts we consume and how they are processed. It is believed by some experts that deficiencies, excesses and imbalances in fats are involved in 70% or more of all US deaths. It is the imbalance that has many experts concerned. The Standard American Diet (SAD) has a ratio of about 20:1 of Omega 6 oils to Omega 3 oils. This is alarming because the ideal ratio is closer to 4:1. One effective way to improve this ratio is to add more Omega 3 fatty acids to your diet. The ideal sources of these good fats are those obtained with the slightest amount of processing such as: raw nuts and seeds, flax, fresh vegetables, fish, and high-quality nutritional oil supplements. For optimum health, our diet should consist of 20% fat, with the vast majority of them being Omega 3 fats. You can think of them as structural fats since they are essentially what holds every living cell together and allow energy, oxygen and electricity to flow throughout the body. A deficiency can manifest in a tremendous variety of symptoms. Fish oil, which consists of Omega 3 fatty acids known as EPA and DHA, has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, boost brain power, improve moods, benefit those with arthritis, reduce inflammation, and much more. More than 900 human clinical trials have shown positive effects on the heart, joints, skin and brain. DHA is very concentrated in our brain (35%), eyes and glands. Many parents are using it in supplement form in the treatment of ADHD, learning disabilities, and autism. Not all fish oil supplements are created equal so it is important to choose only a high-quality product from a reputable manufacturer that can present a statement of purity ensuring that the fish oil is free of contaminants, heavy metals and impurities. At Matzner Chiropractic, we prefer Metagenics. The Omega 3’s require other nutrients so the body can convert them into usable derivatives. These nutrients are: B3, B6, C, magnesium and zinc. A deficiency in any of these can mimic the symptoms of an EFA (essential fatty acid) deficiency. Therefore, a basic nutritional plan to address this would include a multi-vitamin/mineral formula, Omega 3 supplementation, and intake of nuts, seeds and leafy greens on a daily basis.