The Rights of Children Project

Essential Fatty Acids

Omega 3 and Omega 6 Oils

Essential Fatty Acids (EFA's) can remedy a large portion of symptoms of hyperactivity such as bad co-ordination, tremors, twitching muscles, impulsiveness and extreme hostility.

Our cells, which make up the structure of our body, are made up of a balanced combination of Proteins and EFA’s.

EFA’s help prevent the hardening of the blood vessels. The EFA’s help to build smooth and flexible blood vessel structures so brain nutrients can flow easily in the blood vessels and can also easily cross the blood vessels into the nerve structures. Those nutrients are used in the nervous system to produce the needed neuro-transmitters that promote improved concentration, memory and focus.

For information on Brain nutrients and production of neuro-transmitters – read on Brain Food

NOTE: Refined Oils (refined sunflower oil and canola oil) and Margarine interrupt the correct building of the cells resulting in illnesses such as diabetes, heart diseases, blockages in the blood vessels (heart attacks or thrombosis or varicose veins), irritability, poor concentration and lack of focus.

There are 3 EFA's needed which need to be obtained from foods as they cannot be made by the body. They are commonly known as:

Omega 3 - from fish oils (tuna, sardines, salmon, lake trout, hake, krill), seeds (sunflower, safflower, pumpkin, pecanuts, macadamias, almonds, sesame, walnut, linseed/flaxseed), borage oil, flaxseed oil, wheat germ, avocadoes.

Deficiency symptoms: dry skin, lack of co-ordination or impaired vision, memory or learning ability impaired, prone to infections.

Omega 6 - from Evening Primrose Oil, seeds (sunflower, safflower, pumpkin, sesame, walnut, linseed, hemp), wheatgerm.

Deficiency symptoms: eczema or dry skin, dry eyes, blood sugar imbalance or diabetes, chronic fatigue, multiple sclerosis, depression, mood swings, excessive thirst.

Arachidonic acid - derived from peanut oil.

EFA's get converted into very important hormone-like substances called prostaglandins which affect nerve impulse transmission and influence other hormones.

It also keeps the blood thin, relaxes blood vessels, which apparently helps to improve memory.

Sometimes the body has problems converting EFA's to prostaglandins and neuro-transmitter hormones. EFA's can only be converted by 2 enzymes that are dependent on the presence of certain vitamins and minerals.

References: The Mind Game - Philip Day, Nutrition advices by Adelle Davis.

More on Nutrition

Click on the links for more vital nutrition information:

• Protein
• Essential Fatty Acids
• Carbohydrates and Fibre
• Brain Food
• Allergies
• Calcium and Magnesium
• Junk Foods