Arthritis - A Possible Remedy with Omega 3 Oils by Jade Beutler R.C.P., R.R.T. Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints and surrounding tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. Among the oldest known afflictions of human beings, it can affect virtually every part of the body: from the feet, to the knees, back, shoulders, and fingers. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), arthritis effects range from slight pain, stiffness and swelling of the joints to crippling and disability. There are three primary types of arthritis: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout. 
Omega-3 Oils, Powerful Anti-Inflammatory Agents It is the prostaglandins in the body that regulate the inflammatory response. In a healthy body, anti-inflammatory prostaglandins are produced from dietary ingestion of healthful seed oils such as flaxseed oil, or deep water fish. It is the high content of omega-3 fatty acids in these sources that leads to the production of anti-inflammatory prostaglandins. Omega-3 oils have been scientifically proven to be powerful agents. A high dietary ingestion of omega-6 rich oils, such as corn, safflower, and sunflower, as well as animal meats, can lead to the production of inflammatory prostaglandins, worsening the symptoms of inflammatory conditions. The high prevalence of arthritis and other inflammatory conditions may be due largely to the fact that we ingest far too much omega-6 rich oils and animal meats in proportion to the amount of omega-3 fatty acids we consume. This shift in dietary ingestion of omega-3 to omega-6 has been well documented over the past 100 years. One study concluded that arthritics suffer from a 40% deficiency in essential fatty acids compared to other Americans, and over a 100% deficiency compared to people from non-industrialized nations. A Natural Alternative To Anti-inflammatory Medications Unlike medications that interfere with prostaglandin metabolism, omega-3 oils naturally temper the inflammatory prostaglandins resulting in a decrease in painful inflammation. The difference between the drug approach and that taken with omega-3 oils is that the oils do not come with the common side effects prevalent to the medications. Flaxseed oil, at around $12.00 a month, is far less expensive than common anti-inflammatory medications. Not only do the omega-3 oils come without side effects, but they have been medically proven to benefit as many as 60 other common afflictions. In other words, don't be surprised if you notice other health improvements beyond your expectations. Beyond the power of regulating prostaglandins, omega-3 oils have been found to augment the immune system, lessening the severity of auto-immune conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis. There have been studies to validate the use of essential fatty acids, such as the omega-3 in flaxseed oil and omega-3 oils from fish, in arthritic conditions. The difference between flax and fish oils is the type of omega-3 they provide. Flax provides omega-3 in the form of alpha-linolenic acid (LNA). Fish oil supplies omega-3 in the form of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). While EPA is more active, LNA from flaxseed oil is ultimately converted to EPA by the body. The advantages to flaxseed oil is that it is far less expensive, and it does not contain the high levels of rancid by-products (lipid peroxides) associated with commercially available fish oils. A Practical Approach While the causes of arthritis are truly multifactorial, part of the problem can be owed to a clearly defined omega-3 deficiency. Ingestion of foods such as fish and flax oil have been found to increase tissue levels of the valuable omega-3's as well as favorably augmented prostaglandins, averting inflammatory conditions. A practical dietary approach would be to lessen the intake of potentially inflammatory omega-6 oils, as well as animal meats, and supplement your diet with anti-inflammatory omega-3 oils. An average daily dose of flaxseed oil is one-to-two tablespoons a day. A daily intake of omega-3 oils may prove to be an important dietary consideration for those suffering from arthritic, inflammatory and auto-immune conditions. |
