22 Fish-Free for Life: Why Plant Omega-3s are Better for You and the Environment
The overall message is clear: a plant-based Asthma symptoms. Lowering the ratio of omega-6
diet low in saturated fat, salt and sugar (and Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory lung to omega-3 fats from 10:1 to 2:1 helped
processed foods) and high in fresh fruits, disease characterised by recurrent other people with asthma, while a ratio of
vegetables, wholegrain foods, pulses, nuts breathing problems. The UK has one of 10:1 made symptoms worse.
and seeds can provide all the nutrients the highest rates for asthma in the world,
required for good health while protecting along with New Zealand, Australia and Eczema
against a wide range of diseases. Ireland, with one in eight children and one The increasing rates of eczema in the UK
in 20 adults affected. have also been linked to the rising levels
As the incidence of most autoimmune of omega-6 fats and the falling levels of
diseases is directly linked to the consumption During an asthma attack, the lining of the omega-3 fats in the typical Western diet.
of animal foods, this approach could help airways becomes inflamed and constricted,
prevent many autoimmune conditions that leading to coughing, wheezing, difficulty in Supplementing eczema patients with
occur increasingly in populations that eat large breathing and tightness across the chest. omega-3 fats has been shown to relieve
amounts of dairy and meat products. The causes of asthma include a genetic symptoms. Again, the anti-inflammatory
susceptibility (asthma in the family) and effect of these omega-3s is attributed to
Allergies environmental triggers such as cigarette their role in stopping arachidonic acid being
The steep rise in the amount of omega-6 fats smoke, chemicals, dust mites or diet. As used to make inflammatory hormones.
in the diet and the huge drop in omega-3 food allergies are responsible for around
fats is a major driver of the increase of five per cent of all asthma cases, and Supplementing the diet with DHA and EPA
inflammatory allergic reactions. as cow’s milk is a primary cause of food from fish has been shown to increase blood
allergies, it may be useful to consider levels of both long chain omega-3s. But
The omega-6 fat LA is made into arachidonic avoiding cow’s milk and dairy products in the higher levels of EPA could result either
acid in the body, which gives rise to hormones the treatment of asthma. directly from the EPA in the supplement, or
that promote inflammation. So high levels from ‘retroconversion’ of DHA into EPA. This
of omega-6s can encourage allergic Changing the diet in other ways has been is very important as it shows that an algal
inflammation. On the other hand, omega-3s shown to help, reducing the need for drugs. supplement supplying DHA could increase
reduce inflammation as they compete for Supplementing the diet with plant-based both DHA and EPA levels in the body.
the enzymes that convert omega-6s into fatty acids may relieve the symptoms of
arachidonic acid, thus blocking production of asthma in some people. In one study, The study referred to above used
inflammatory hormones. borage oil (containing GLA) reduced the preparations from tuna fish, however, in an
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