EFA question

[Rockaho]

confused:
O.K. everyone knows saturated fats are bad.
Monounsaturated and Polyunsaturated are good. Right?
We also want Omega-3 and Omega-6. Right?
I have read in several places that Monounsaturated is better for us than Polyunsaturated. Is this true?
If we want Monounsaturated over Poly why is the big kick on Flax oil? Flax and Fish Oil have about 3 times more Poly than they do Mono. Olive oil on the other hand has about 5 times more Mono. Would Olive oil not be the better tasting, easier to find, cheaper, and most healthy? Or does it all boil down to the Omega-3 and -6? I know Fish Oil and Flax Oil brag about having Omega-3 on their label and Olive oil don't.

So which is it

Poly, Mono, or Omega?

 

[chillin408]

bump, I'm pretty sure neither are unhealthy, I think monosaturated fats have got attention. I think their suppose to decrease your chances of heart diesase or some cardiac problems,at least thats what the claim is, if i remember correctly.. Anyway i dont think polyunsaturated fats are unhealthy, i guess they just havent got the same press as olive oil and monounsaturated fats. Unless if i havent been paying attention. Anyway I've heard Polyunsaturated fats better protein utilization,but i dont know the whole story to that,i'd like to know if its significant and how it works etc

 

[Rockaho]

BUMP

 

[cockdezl]

Both monounsaturated and polyunsaturated oils are beneficial, relative to saturated fats...but I believe that monounsaturates have received more media coverage due to the Mediterranian studies. I prefer the omega-3 polyunsaturates, such as EPA, DHA (Fish) and ALA Flax/Hemp), over the monounsaturates.

One reason is that the monounsaturates are more neutral in their effects on eicosanoids (and no I didn't get this from The Zone). There are many studies showing effects on prostaglandin formation, cancer prevention, thermogenic effects, repartitioning effects, etc, by omega-3's.

One downfall of the omega-3's is their sensitivity to oxidation, from light, heat, oxygen, etc. Omega-3's should be taken with anti-oxidants, such as vitamin E, C, beta-carotene, Lipoic acid, etc.

 

[cozmokramer]

omega 3s... its that simple

 

[cozmokramer]

I think that hemp oil is now considered better than flax due to its better balance of omega 3's to omega 6's...

ratio for hemp is 3 to 1
ratio for flax is 6 to 1

 

[Enock]

yeah but 6's are easy to come by, 3's arn't thats why the 6/1 ratio is preferred.