Missing essential dietary fats necessary for healthy joints, proper heart and brain function, anti-inflammatory effects throughout the body, and smooth glowing skin.
Standard nutritional recommendations call for at least 500, with upwards of a 1,000-5,000 mg of omega 3 containing the vital components of EPA and DHA as being optimal for good health.
EPA or Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and DHA or Docosahexaenoic Acid, work together as a team playing a structural and integral role in the composition of our cell membranes, our immune system, brain function, nerve function, fetal development, and cardiovascular and lung function.
These two also work to reduce inflammation in joints, blood vessels, and skin.
The big issue with omega 3 fats is that the most bioavailable omega 3’s come from oily, cold water fish, or egg yolks.
Of course, vegetarians and vegans do not eat fish or seafood and must get their omega-3 fats from a plant-based source such as flax seed or chia seed.
This type of omega 3 fat comes in the form of ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), which is the plant-based version of omega 3 that must be converted in the body to the usable forms of DHA and EPA.
Since many vegetarians rely on grains, soy and vegetable oils in their diet, this actually increases their need for omega 3, because omega 6 fats (in grains, soy and vegetable oils) compete in the body with omega 3 fats. The more omega 6 fats in the diet, the more omega 3 fats are needed.
On top of that, deficiencies of B vitamins, magnesium, and zinc—common deficiencies in vegetarians—inhibit this conversion even more. Add in other factors such as age, genetics, poor digestion, protein deficiencies, and other health conditions, and it makes the conversion even more difficult!
Diets deficient in omega 3’s, DHA and EPA have noticeable effects on aging. The skin looks drier, it lacks its normal elasticity, and is missing the natural oils that keep it soft and supple. Surface wrinkles appear and the skin will look rough, blotchy, bumpy and dry, and hair may end up looking dull, lifeless and brittle, along with a sprinkling of dandruff.
Not a real pretty picture!
Disclaimer: The information on this POST is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional advice. The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this article is for general information purposes / educational purposes only, and to ensure discussion or debate.
Thank you … Lack of properly metabolized omega 3’s may also exacerbate acne, eczema and psoriasis as well. Low levels of DHA and EPA also contribute to arthritis, asthma, heart disease, hypertension, osteoporosis, depression/anxiety, and ADD, too.
One of the other vital fats often missing from vegetarians’ diets is saturated fat, found in butter, egg yolks, red meat, and also in coconut oil. Saturated fats play similarly significant roles in the body’s chemistry.
These fats strengthen the immune system and are involved in inter-cellular communication which involves our immunity and ability to fight cancer, among other things.
Saturated fats are also necessary for testosterone production as well as estrogen and progesterone, so avoiding these fats will also deplete your essential sex hormones, which affect energy, fertility, mood and sex drive.
Saturated fats are most definitely required for nerves and the nervous system to function properly, and did you know that the majority of the brain is made up of saturated fats? That is why avoiding fatty acids can actually cause serious issues in your moods.
If you have any of these ‘old age’ symptoms you most likely have a fatty acid deficiency achy joints:
Symptoms of ADD
Brittle, peeling nails
Dry, dull, hair
Cold intolerance symptoms
Constipation
Cracked skin on heels
Eczema, dry scaly skin
Excessive thirst
Gastrointestinal problems
Hypertension
Irregular bowel movements
Irritability
Do you want to add a word or two…
One more comment on essential fatty acids, primarily omega 3’s—when you look at DNA strands of people who are aging more quickly than their younger counterparts, you will find that the telomeres, or the ends of the DNA strands on people who are aging faster are shorter and fraying.
Low concentration/brain fog
Depression or anxiety
Learning disability
Lowered immunity
Low body weight
Poor memory
Poor wound healing
Weakness and lack of energy
Guess what main dietary substance dramatically slows this fraying?
You guessed it—omega 3 fatty acids!
Your Comments……
Advanced Glycation End products can come from two primary sources:
AGE’s are Advanced Glycation End products.
From our diet (Exogenous AGE’s)
Internally produced in the body (Endogenous AGE’s)
AGE’s and aging from a diet high in carbohydrates consisting of grains.
AGE’s can be either in the food you eat or formed within your body.
AGE’s occur when sugar molecules attach to protein or fat molecules without an enzyme.
AGE’s are a serious promoter of aging in the body, as well as initiating many chronic diseases.
In fact AGE’s can be one of the biggest factors in the development of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and Alzheimer’s’.
AGE’s form a sticky plaque-like substance in the brain, nerve tissue, and the rest of the body.
It is reported that when AGE’s are consumed, about 10-30% are absorbed into the body.
The body’s ability to eliminate these once they are absorbed is very limited, meaning that once these gunky, gooey, nasty things get in human cells, it’s damage that cannot be undone.
AGE’s are responsible for wrinkly, sagging skin, damage to virtually every known organ system in the body.
Simple, processed carbs break down into sugar in the body, which in turn breaks down collagen and elastin, creating wrinkly, sagging skin.
If you liked this post from DAYAL why not share it?