Good Fats, Bad Fats

Oils and fats in our diets are made up of building blocks called fatty acids.  There are healthy fats and oils, and some that can be quite damaging. For example, Conjugated Linoleic Acid, or CLA, which is often found in many dietary supplements, has been found to cause benign fatty liver disease and resistance to insulin. On the other hand, Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oils, such as DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) can be helpful in reversing the affects of CLA.

Recent studies by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are helping to demonstrate the benefits of DHA and EPA.

Darshan S. Kelley, lead researcher, has indicated that results show that in laboratory rats, DHA has demonstrated itself to be beneficial in protecting the animals from the dangerous affects of CLA.  The tests show that EPA was not as affective.

Insulin resistance can lead to early development of diabetes, and benign fatty liver disease can lead to non-alcoholic cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Dr. Kelly indicates that further tests are needed to further investigate the healthy benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids such as DHA and EPA.

Keith E. Biggs, DC
www.eastmesachiropractor.com
www.biggschiropractic.blogspot.com
biggschiropractic@gmail.com

Stress Reactions Reduced by Walnuts

Researchers at Penn State set out recently to determine if the consumption of walnuts, walnut oil, and flax seed oil would reduce some of the physiological effects suffered by people who are under stress.

Sheila West, associate professor of biobehavioral health, stated that "People who show an exaggerated biological response to stress are at higher risk of heart disease. We wanted to find out if omega 3-fatty acids from plant sources would blunt cardiovascular responses to stress."

Omega-3 fatty acids that are found in plant based oils have been shown to reduce bad cholesterol levels in the blood. They also have been shown to reduce the inflammatory response of the body. Walnuts and flax seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids.  During the study, subjects were placed on strict diets that also included walnuts, walnut oil, and flax seed oil.  Stress was induced through public speaking and through placing feet into basins of ice water.

The researchers at Penn State found that the consumption of walnuts, walnut oil, and flax seed oil reduced the blood pressure of subjects both at rest and under stress in the laboratory environment.  They also found that c-reactive proteins, a marker for inflammation, were also reduced.  This is important because the reducing of both blood pressure and inflammation are beneficial in reducing cardiovascular disease.

The subjects in the study were given about 18 walnut halves per day and one tablespoon of walnut oil. It is important to note that the walnuts and oil were substituted for other fats in what was described as a "typical American diet."

Keith E Biggs, DC
www.eastmesachiropractor.com
www.biggschiropractic.blogspot.com
biggschiropractic@gmail.com