This content delves into the significance of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fats for brain health. It identifies plant foods like sunflower and sesame seeds as sources of Omega-6, or arachidonic acid. The imbalance in the Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio is linked to processed foods and nutrient deficiency. Enzymes and specific nutrients are crucial for converting these fats into beneficial forms. The pegan diet, a blend of plant foods and seafood, is suggested for balanced intake.
Omega-6 vs Omega-3
Transcript
Nowadays, everyone’s down on Omega six. Omega-3, great omega six bad. Now the reality is that your brain contains two fundamental fats. One is a Omega-3 DHA, it’s a marine fat. In other words, it comes from seafood. And the other is omega six, which is called a arachidonic acid. And ultimately it comes from plant foods. Now, we’re also told that the Omega-3 to six ratio has gone way out of whack. We’ve got way too much omega six and not enough Omega-3. And this, this is kind of true. What’s really been happening is all these refined and processed foods, there’s palm oil and peanut oil and soya oil, and you know that sunflower oil that people fry in, I mean, these are denatured sources of omega six. So it’s, it’s not untrue that we’re getting too much omega six. And it’s clearly true that we’re not getting enough Omega-3. But just focusing on this ratio is, is is not really quite right because they’re both essential. And if you eat proper sources of omega six, which comes from hot climate seeds, so we’re talking about sunflower seeds and sesame seeds and tahini and those kind of foods, they’re, they’re really good for you, especially if you have enough Omega-3. And also what’s happening is the ability to turn the basic omega six, it’s called linolenic acid into a arachidonic acid, which is what builds your brain. And the basic Omega-3, which you get in walnut and cheer and flax, which is called um, alpha linolenic acid down into DHA and EPA, which is very good for your mood. That’s what you get in fish oils. EPA and DHA requires enzymes. And the enzymes re require vitamins and minerals like zinc, magnesium, and B six and vitamin C and so on. So if you have a standard American diet, the sad diet, where you are lacking vitamins and minerals, having way too much processed foods rich in omega six and very little Omega-3, then you’ve really got a problem because you don’t even have the nutrients, uh, to drive these enzymes. And the enzyme power gets used up processing all this omega six. And that’s, that’s why we have this sort of Omega six, Omega-3. But let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water. You need both omega six, but proper, not denatured whole seeds and Omega-3. That’s how we are designed. Our brains contain both Omega-3 and omega six, both marine foods and plant foods. Uh, I call myself a pecan. It’s like a pescatarian, vegan, lots of plant foods, but also seafoods.