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Gut Health, Joint Pain… and more
Who Knew?
Omega 3 Fats Reduce Inflammation, Help Heal Autoimmune Disease and Crowd Out Sugar Cravings:
In my “Migraine Toolbox” I write about cold pressed olive oil saving me from migraines. My miracle food. Turns out that olive oil is beneficial in many more ways. For our purposes let’s call it, “The Good Fat”.
I grew up on Wesson oil, margarine, Skippy peanut butter and Velveeta cheese. That was it. I think of the brain power I could have had in my youth and it makes me a bit sad.
I always felt hungry as I got into my late teen years and early 20’s. I was eating practically no fat except for an occasional run to the local Chinese restaurant for cashew chicken cooked with, no doubt, poor quality soy oil. The cashews were the only monounsaturated fat in my diet at the time.
Little did I know that the good omega 3 oils I was avoiding due to ignorance would alleviate those extreme hunger pangs, sleepless nights, and cravings for refined sugar and carbohydrates. Life was hell.
Monounsaturated oils do not increase cholesterol levels, nor do they deplete the blood of (HDL) which is the good cholesterol that scrubs the (LDL) bad cholesterol from our arteries. I can say that my HDL is off the charts at 120 after adding so much olive oil, chia seeds, omega rich fish and free running eggs to my diet.
Sufficient consumption of omega 3 fats has a profound healing effect on: Arthritis, eczema and other skin diseases, asthma, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, varicose veins, nervousness, insomnia, migraines, depression and auto immune disease. Omega fats are key for brain and nerve development in infants and lack of them exacerbates nerve damage in the elderly.
Check out Functional Medicine doctor Terry Wahl’s amazing story of recovery from Multiple Sclerosis: http://terrywahls.com
Omega 3 fats reduce inflammation while omega 6 fats cause inflammation. Here are the oils to minimize or avoid: corn, soy, safflower, sunflower, palm kernel and cottonseed.
Cold Pressed Olive Oil is by far and away the best oil due to it’s oleocanthal content. Oleocanthal has the same anti-inflammatory effect as ibuprofen. Check out this link for alzheimers prevention
Here are other beneficial sources of omega 3 and mono fats: wild and sockeye salmon, mackeral, sardines, light and dark sesame oil, macadamia nut oil (for high heat cooking), walnuts, avocado and chia seeds.
All nuts with the exception of walnuts are high in omega 6. Walnuts are high in omega 3 which is what we want more of.
So, if you stay away from good fats but can’t resist that late night ice cream or buttered popcorn,
try the good fats! Add at least 50 grams of good fats to your daily diet and see how you feel.
When I am ill at ease I often notice that I haven’t had my “Good Fat” quota. When no amount of meditation, rigorous yoga or down time helps, I go for a meal with lots of omega 3s. It always takes me to that place of relief and relaxation.
Isn’t it ironic that having good fats actually curbs our appetite and helps us feel clear headed, focused, pain free and full of energy.
Be well and Get In Touch if you have any questions.