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Health on Female First
Everyone knows the 'Paleo' Diet works for weight control, but Brits are overlooking another important feature of this ancient eating regime which delivers proven benefits for both the brain and body.
It's all a bit fishy because new data from Equazen, the manufacturers of evidence-based omega supplements for all ages, shows that while nine out of ten (88%) adults can name at least one health boost from eating omega-3 fatty acids, more than half (54%) of us admit we don't eat enough oily fish to ensure an adequate intake.
Even when we do eat salmon or tuna it has often come from a tin, which means it has lost these essential fatty acids, a fact that is also lost on one in five consumers (23% and 20%). Experts believe it was the omega-3s in the diets of our Paleo' ancestors which allowed them make the extraordinary evolutionary leap from ape-like hominids to homosapiens. And studies show they are still important today as they protect against diabetes, heart disease and stroke. There is increasing evidence for cognitive benefits too.
Professor Michael Crawford, director of the Institute of Brain Chemistry and Human Nutrition and one of the authors of that seminal Rift Valley study says "Fish oils are so important because they have a balance of long-chain fatty acids which are "more similar to that of the human brain than any other food source known."
He is convinced "Brain-specific nutrition had and still has significant potential to affect hominid brain evolution."
The surge in behavioural problems such as ADHD and our rapidly ageing population highlight the importance of boosting our brain health from the cradle to grave. But Equazen's poll, exposes worrying gaps in our perceptions and practice when it comes to omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
Almost two out of three (58%) respondents did not know the difference between omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, and a mere one in 25 (4%) realise that most of us have a diet which is too high in omega-6 and lacking in omega-3.
In an expert report, 'Something fishy about our lives', which examines the clinical evidence and discusses these new findings, GP Dr Paul Stillman says "That's a real problem, because with these essential fatty acids it's all about striking the right balance."
"Most of us don't have enough omega-3 in our diet, and high levels of some omega-6s can promote inflammation, but it's not as simple as 'three good, six bad'."
"Trying to compare these essential fatty acids is like trying to compare a violin to a flute. Both have different, but important, roles within the orchestra but if one drowns out the other, all harmony is lost. It's the same with omega-3 and omega-6 we need them both, but in a harmonious ratio."
Yet the Equazen poll found that almost half (46%) of those questioned did not know this ratio was important. And around a third (30%) of those questioned wrongly believe white fish is a good source of omega-3 and more than a quarter (26%) thought flaxseed, which is high in omega-6, but not 3, also delivers useful amounts.
Constant reminders about the dangers of saturated fats may also be causing confusion as many consumers do not realise the omegas are actually fats. Two out of three people (68%) did know that omega-6 is a fatty acid, and two out of five did not realise omega-3 was a healthy fat.
Award winning dietitian and an advisor to Equazen, Dr Carrie Ruxton says "The evidence confirms that omega-3s are important at any age. Several studies have found that children exposed to optimal intakes of omega-3s in the womb or infanthood tend to have better cognitive function while a recent randomised control trial showed the specific combination of omega-3 and 6 in Equazen is as effective as prescription medicines for controlling the symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). As a result, every parent instinctively knows that a child's diet can have a big impact on their behaviour and this is confirmed by a growing body of evidence."
Parenting expert Lorraine Thomas, founder of the Parent Coaching Academy and an advisor or Equazen, adds "We want our children to be independent, to have their own opinions and stand up for themselves and this behaviour shows they are developing normally, but can also lead to tantrums which can be challenging."
"What most of us don't realise is that a diet rich in the vital vitamins and minerals, including an omega-3 and 6 is imperative when it comes to children and teen diets. Science has found that a blend of omega-3 and 6 in the diet help with behaviour, memory and as a result learning. They also help with sleep patterns according to researchers from Oxford University. They found children who had a diet rich in omega-3 and omega-6, like the Equazen formulation, slept for longer and woke up less in the night compared to those children who did not have a diet rich in omega-3 and omega-6. We all know that a good night's sleep helps with alertness the next day and that applies to parents too."
In summary, Dr Ruxton notes "As we are all living longer and demanding more from life, it is the neuro-protective benefits, of these omega-3 fatty acids, like those found in Equazen, which are really exciting and are likely to become increasingly important."
So if you treasure your body and brain, take a tip from national treasure, Dame Judi Dench, who told Channel 4's Jon Snow her secret to learning lines "I take that wonderful thing called Equazen every morning. The Master of Magdalen told me about it ages ago and he said, 'You should take that for your memory, it's wonderful.' I've taken it ever since."