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by Reg Block
Back to school and back to work means increased mental and physical demands for
most people. Stress and depression levels become more apparent as business expectations
and family commitments begin to compete for priority. Like any finely engineered
piece of machinery, the human body requires proper fuel, maintenance and rest
to avoid malfunction and eventual breakdown.
The brain and other parts of the body interact and share information to ensure
signals are sent back and forth forewarning that damage may be occurring somewhere
in the body. Without the presence of balanced essential fatty acids, optimum performance
is compromised both mentally and physically. A wide range of diseases like neuropsychiatric
disorders and cardiovascular illness have been linked to a lack of essential fatty
acids.
Because September is the start of the school and business year for many, proper
diet is often further compromised in place of convenience. This usually involves
cafeteria food, french fries, hamburgers, soft drinks and meals containing an
abundance of transfatty and saturated fats and a marked absence of healthy fats.
Scientist and author Dr. Michael Schmidt, in his book Smart Fats, says one of
the principal causes of attention deficit disorder (ADD) and other brain specific
conditions is lack of certain essential fatty acids (EFAs) in the body and the
brain. The body is unable to synthesize essential fatty acids and therefore must
acquire them through diet. This is significant as the brain is 60 percent fat,
cell membranes are mostly fat and bone density depends upon fat.
All fats are not created equal. Some are categorized as good while others are
not.
Unsaturated fats have space for hydrogen molecules that make the fat biologically
active and versatile, while saturated fats are molecularly straight and full of
hydrogen molecules, causing them to travel directly to fat cells. Unlike good
fats (EFAs), saturated fats can be made by the body and do not need to be consumed.
Over consumption of saturated fats can lead to minute breaks in the outer layer
of muscle cells, eventually causing a back-up of insulin in the blood. Contrarily,
MFAs or monounsaturated fats help defend against diabetes and cardiovascular disease
while acting as an antioxidant to clean up free radicals.
The worst fats are transfatty acids. Transformed chemically through hydrogenation
or through heating, these fats last longer for deep-frying thus are commonly found
in fast foods. Transfats are readily incorporated into existing fat cells often
impeding weight loss, decreasing testosterone, compromising immune function, increasing
bad cholesterol and raising insulin levels. Experts like Brad King, author of
Fat Wars, recommends removing hydrogenated fats from the diet and replacing them
with EFAs for improved immune function, stress reduction, weight loss, cognitive
and cardiovascular health. In the US, the Food and Drug Administration does not
set a recommended daily allowance because any amount of hydrogenated fat is bad
for you.
Canadian researchers like Dr. Allan Logan from Greens Plus, says that in societies
where fish is the primary protein consumed, the incidence of depression and bipolar
disorder is considerably lower than in cultures where bovine protein is a core
staple. Recent studies, according to Dr. Logan, draw links to Alzheimer's disease,
autism, schizophrenia, hostility, ADD, anxiety and bipolar disorder. It should
be noted that 27 percent of North Americans suffer from mild to severe forms of
depression. Dr. Klerman, in the British Journal of Psychiatry 1998; 152: 4-14
and JAMA 1998; 261: 229-35, concludes that increases in depression cannot be attributed
to reporting bias or changes in diagnostic criteria.
Dr. Joseph Hibbeln of the National Institutes of Health, in the Lancet, 1998,
drew a substantial correlation between global fish consumption and depression.
It has been found that depressed patients have a lower Omega-3 content in the
blood: Peet M, Murphy B, Shay J. Horrobin D. Biol Psychiatry 1998; 43: 315-19.
Furthermore some researchers believe stress causes cortisone stimulation that
in turn results in increased fat storage. Brad King says, "stress and cortisol
are major enemies, eating muscles that we use to burn fat. This is a major reason
why we gain back weight after a diet - we've lost a key part of our fat-burning
arsenal."
Consumption of EFAs and other nutrients are determined by general health condition,
metabolism, lifestyle and external influences including climate. According to
Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo, author of Eat Right for Your Blood Type, each region of
the world naturally provides the type of food best suited for consumption by those
living in the area. Additionally, he concludes that blood type plays a significant
role in balancing diets. Furthermore, stress, pollution and other external factors
may change the way your body is absorbing nutrients.
Raschid Ahmed from Optima Health Solution, maintains that a health baseline should
be established through evaluation of medical history and comprehensive testing
to accurately determine what your body actually needs. For women around age 30
and men around age 40, this is essential as major internal functions begin to
change, affecting testosterone, hormones, red and white blood cells, sugar levels,
libido, memory and dietary needs. EFA status can be determined by evaluating plasma
and erythrocyte membranes. Finding out where your health is at, can help correct
current problems and avoid potential conditions down the road. Stewart Brown,
HNd, maintains that 80 percent of health problems are caused by poor nutrition
and misconceptions about fats.
There are volumes of published research papers supporting the links between EFAs
and various health conditions. Lawsuits have been filed in the USA, blaming big
name fast food franchises for obesity where consumers were unknowingly eating
harmful substances such as hydrogenated fats. But ultimately, the responsibility
lies with the consumer to choose the right foods. However, this is more easily
said than done as advertising-driven mainstream media pumps out misleading images
of healthy, happy families heading out for their favorite transfatty acid fast
food fix. Education is the key and the consumer rules supreme when it comes to
chasing the almighty buck. Stop buying it and they will stop selling it. Because
September essentially means back to business for adults and kids, it is a good
time to get serious about what you eat and how it affects your physical and mental
performance.
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