Saturday, July 30, 2005
What role do Omega 3 &6 EFA's Play in the Body ?
Like all fats, Essential Fatty Acids(EFA) provide energy. Their calorific value is similar to other fats and oils but, unlike saturated fats, they have important health roles. In fact, as their name suggest, they are essential and must be consumed regularly as the body has limited storage for them.
Both of the important EFA families - omega-6 and omega-3 - are components of nerve cells and cellular membranes. They are converted by the body into eicosanoids, leukotrienes and prostaglandins - all of which are needed on a second-by-second basis by most tissue activities in the body.
Omega3 and 6 EFA are involved in normal physiology, including:
1)regulating pressure in the eye, joints, and blood vessels, and mediating immune response,
2)regulating bodily secretions and their viscosity,
3)dilating or constricting blood vessels,
4)regulating collateral circulation,
5)directing endocrine hormones to their target cells,
6)regulating smooth muscles and autonomic reflexes,
7)being primary constituents of cell membranes,
8)regulating the rate of cell division,
9)maintaining the fluidity and rigidity of cellular membranes
10)regulating the inflow and outflow of substances to and from cells
11)transporting oxygen from red blood cells to the tissues
12)maintaining proper kidney function and fluid balance
13)keeping saturated fats mobile in the blood stream
14)preventing blood cells from clumping together (blood clots that can be a cause of heart attack and stroke)
15)mediating the release of inflammatory substances from cells that may trigger allergic conditions
16)regulating nerve transmission and communication
If the diet is deficient in either omega-6 or omega-3 long-term degenerative illnesses will result.
However, because the end product (eg prostaglandin, leukotriene) of EFA metabolism differ slightly but significantly from omega-6 to omega-3, they must be present in balance for optimum health.
Both of the important EFA families - omega-6 and omega-3 - are components of nerve cells and cellular membranes. They are converted by the body into eicosanoids, leukotrienes and prostaglandins - all of which are needed on a second-by-second basis by most tissue activities in the body.
Omega3 and 6 EFA are involved in normal physiology, including:
1)regulating pressure in the eye, joints, and blood vessels, and mediating immune response,
2)regulating bodily secretions and their viscosity,
3)dilating or constricting blood vessels,
4)regulating collateral circulation,
5)directing endocrine hormones to their target cells,
6)regulating smooth muscles and autonomic reflexes,
7)being primary constituents of cell membranes,
8)regulating the rate of cell division,
9)maintaining the fluidity and rigidity of cellular membranes
10)regulating the inflow and outflow of substances to and from cells
11)transporting oxygen from red blood cells to the tissues
12)maintaining proper kidney function and fluid balance
13)keeping saturated fats mobile in the blood stream
14)preventing blood cells from clumping together (blood clots that can be a cause of heart attack and stroke)
15)mediating the release of inflammatory substances from cells that may trigger allergic conditions
16)regulating nerve transmission and communication
If the diet is deficient in either omega-6 or omega-3 long-term degenerative illnesses will result.
However, because the end product (eg prostaglandin, leukotriene) of EFA metabolism differ slightly but significantly from omega-6 to omega-3, they must be present in balance for optimum health.
# posted by RefinanceGuru @ 8:34 PM 
