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Most
of us suffer from a deficiency of fish fatty acids (omega-3 fatty
acids)
Our intake of different fats has changed markedly during
the last century. We eat much more saturated fats and vegetable oils
containing omega-6 fatty acids today, whereas our intake of fish
fatty acids (omega-3) has decreased by 80% during the last 80 years.
In the old days it was not uncommon for fish to be eaten seven days
a week and some people working on Swedish farms would ask for a note
in their employment contracts stating that salmon would not be
served more than five days a week.
We eat
much less fish today, so most of us now suffer from a deficiency of
omega-3 fatty acids. This may be of great physiological importance
and may also relate to an increased incidence of cardiovascular
disease and other disease states. To keep up with the needs for fish
fatty acids, we should eat 100 gram daily of fatty fish such as
mackerel, herring or salmon.
As we can see,
the consumption of saturated fat (the bad fat) has increased by 60%,
the consumption of omega-6 has increased by 30% and shockingly
enough the consumption of omega-3
has DECREASED by 80%. No
wonder doctors and practitioners everywhere are recommending omega-3
supplementation for maintaining good health.
This Graph was
compiled by Professor Tom Saldeen of Uppsala University.
INTERESTING FACT...
The fatty acid composition of the cells differs
considerably between different populations. People in Europe and the
USA have high levels of omega-6 fatty acids, e.g. arachidonic acid,
and low levels of omega-3 fatty acids, e.g. EPA, in their cells. The
arachidonic acid/ EPA ratio is 50 and heart disease is common. The
Japanese on the other hand, have a ratio of 10 and a lower incidence
of heart disease. Greenland Eskimos have a very low incidence of
heart disease and a ratio of only 1. These data indicate that the
omega-6/omega-3 ratio should be much lower and the intake of omega-3
fatty acids much higher in Europe and the USA than they are today.
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