Kevin’s Corner on Exercise and Nutrition

Are we so blind that we really just do not understand how ABSO-FREAKING-LUTELY important it is to get good sources of Omega 3’s in our diet and how ABSO-EQUALLY-LUTELY it is to not just try, but to do everything in our power to cut wayyyyyyy back on Omega 6’s?

OK, I am sure a lot of you know what an Omega 3 fatty acid and an Omega 6 fatty acid are. No, not really? Well, maybe some of you do.

I know you have heard of or at least have probably seen the fancy cool term Omega 3 on some product you purchased lately at your local market.  “Great source of Omega 3″ in a pretty cool looking red heart.  Sucked you in to buying it without even knowing what it is and whether or not it is really good for you or not. That Red Heart Symbol on a package really compels people to buy.  Just because it is a good source of Omega 3, does it really mean that you are covered? What is the ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3 in that food item you just purchased? Chances are if it is a loaf of whole wheat bread, it is probably loaded with Omega 6’s and probably a paltry Omega 6 to Omega 3 ratio of 10:1. I was buying Earth Balance Margarine thinking that it was great because it contained no hydrogenated fats. What I did not realize was that it was made mostly with corn oil, safflower oil and other very high sources of Omega 6 oils and a little bit of Olive Oil.  The ratio was 8:1. They have a new one out that they added Flaxseed Oil to and moved the ratio down to 4:1. It is certainly the best one I can find out there.

The recommended ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3 is 1:1 or 2:1. 

Quick Definition: Hydrogenated Fats = the most deadly, should be outlawed, might as well be suicide in a jar, did you know that they take the peanut oil out of Jif and Skippy Peanut Butter and replace it with this sh_t?, Come on people, this stuff is bad.

So, back to Omega 3’s and Omega 6’s…

Each time I read a little more about Omega 3’s and Omega 6’s, I am just further convinced that we really are clueless to the benefits of Omega 3 and that the benefits of dramatically increasing our intake of Omega 3’s and at the same time clueless to why we should be focusing on the elimination or at least a drastic reduciton of Omega 6’s in our diet. Doing this could be the key to our long term health.

Omega 3 Versus Omega 6 Analogies/ Comparisons

Omega 3’s are like a cool running stream and Omega 6’s are like a hot fire.
Omega 3’s come from the leaf of a plant and Omega 6’s come from the seed of a plant.
Omega 3’s can suppress inflamation and Omega 6’s can cause inflamation.

Inflamation is the cause of high cholesterol.

I may not have mentioned in my earlier blog post that I firmly believe the Dr. Cass is right that the major underlying cause of High Cholesterol is inflamation. Your bodies natural response to inflamation is cholesterol. So, if eating a diet high in Omega 6 is your thing, don’t you think you should stop doing that to yourself and start focusing on eating sources of Omega 3?

I have mentioned The Paleo Diet for Athletes before and covered what it recommends in terms of eating healthy and getting good sources of Omega 3’s in your diet, but it did not prepare me for The Omnivore’s Dilemma. This is my new favorite book, I have even entertained selling my house and buying a farm, growing some grass and hearding the cattle, chickens, pigs and turkeys around and pulling off the grid.  I had no freaking clue how messed up our food system is today. I have been kidding myself with my protein choices. Yeah, I may have eliminated almost all grains from my diet to cut back on the Inflamatory Effect of grains, but I had not really considered how critical of an eye I need to have when choosing my source of protein.

Before reading The Omnivore’s Dilemma I thought I already understood what there was to know about Omega 3’s. Now, that I have read it, when it comes to eating healthy I have not even come close to getting Omega 3 into my diet and eliminating/reducing Omega 6’s.

Organic is a Big Joke when it comes to protein!

I was talking to my friend Aidan Delaney today and he is right. If you can’t find a animal based protein that you are sure is a great source of Omega 3 and very low in Omega 6, you may as well just not eat it and just go with something you know is high in Omega 3’s and low in Omega 6. FISH!!!!

The only other option for animal based protein that is a great source of Omega 3 and very low in Omega 6 is to find a farm like the one in The Omnivore’s Dilemma and buy your meat there.  So, unless, the “O” Organics Brand at Safeway is listening and decides to come clean and provide me with a grass fed piece of chicken or beef, I am going completely local and never coming back and of course I will finally bite the bullet and go find a good source for my fish in Seattle so I can stock my freezer. I always have like fish.

A word about Fish.

If it is Farm Raised, throw it back! I can’t believe these people are in business. They are poisoning our food sources, just like the people poisoning our chickens and cows by feeding them nothing but grains.

I will blog next with my recommendations for what you can do to get Omega 3’s back into your diet and how to eliminate Omega 6’s. 

Thanks for reading,

Kevin