Our health in general depends in part on us obtaining a balanced diet. It is often difficult however, to achieve a balanced diet that contains all the nutrients that the body needs for optimum health and this is particularly the case with the nutrients found in green foods as many of use simply do not eat enough of these. You can give your greens intake a boost with Udo’s Beyond Greens containing, not only seven different green foods but also digestive enzymes, soluble and insoluble fibre and Omega 3, 6 and 9.
What we need to look at in our diets is the balance of fats and the quantity and quality of two particular fats known as Essential Fatty Acids – they are Omega 3 and Omega 6.
1. Omega 3 for heart health
Whilst saturated fats make blood platelets stickier (potential heart attack, stroke or embolism), Omega 3’s make platelets less sticky. Saturated fats also make us more insulin resistant (potential for diabetes) whilst Omega 3’s make us insulin sensitive. So cutting out all fats can be dangerous as if we reduce our fat intake and get out fuel instead from carbohydrates, the body lacks the Omega 3’s to counter these heart issues whilst it makes saturated fats from the sugars and starches contained in the carbohydrates or we have a diet high in saturated fat.
2. Omega 6 for heart health
In a recent review of 6 trials that looked at the effect that increasing the intake of Omega 6 and reducing the intake of saturated fats had on coronary heart disease found that 3 studies found that CHD events fell by between 24% and 45% whilst in the other 3 no significant effect was seen. The review concluded that although limitations are present for each trial, the combined results provide evidence that replacing saturated fats or refined carbohydrates (eg. sugars, white bread, white rice, potatoes) with Omega 6 reduces CHD risk.
The Brain is around 60% fat, so it really should come as no surprise that we need to feed it fats – essential fats, Omega 3 particularly.
There are four key reasons why Essential Fatty Acids could help with brain function.
1. DHA and EPA Conversion
The most important fats for brain function are the non-essential fatty acids DHA and EPA. If the body has enough of the Essential Fatty Acid – Omega 3 Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA) from seed oils then it converts what it needs as it has done for millenia into the fatty acids DHA and EPA. Udo’s DHA Oil Blend is particularly rich in DHA.
For more information about this process, read our article “Which Fats are Truly Essential”.
2. Stable energy release
We all find it hard to concentrate sometimes and this is often down to us feeling hungry or lacking energy. Our ability to concentrate soon returns when we have just eaten or have a higher level of energy.
Fat is an energy source that is stable, unlike carbohydrates that burn quickly and give an energy spike followed by a crash. Fats burn slowly so last longer and maintain our energy levels for longer. They also keep us feeling fuller for longer – again carbohydrates, once they quickly burn off leave us feeling hungry and tired and our concentration levels and mood often suffer. This is often reported by teachers when children have had a carbohydrate loaded breakfast – they find it harder to concentrate and as they feel hungry become irritable.
3. Blood flow to the brain
Essential Fatty Acids improve the membrane function of every cell in our body. This includes the blood cells which are then better able to carry vital oxygen to the brain for cognitive function and take away carbon dioxide waste.
4. Getting the message through efficiently
The Soya Lecithin in Udo’s 3-6-9 Oil Blend works to strengthen the barrier around the nerve cells, known as the Myelin Sheath. The Myelin Sheath is essential to enable your nerve cells to conduct electrical charges within the brain and throughout the body’s nervous system and protects the charge from interference.
Udo’s Beyond Greens contains fermented greens and is rich in soluble and insoluble fibre – both are essential for a health digestive system.
We recommend Udo’s Choice for better health.