Questioning all these 'amazing diet' results

[escapee]

In general, we don't need too much of derivatives as there can be harmful in excess. Lactating mum could be an exception though. Consider the work done by (A pro meat guy !LOL) Brian Perskin (brianperskin.com).

The AHA Champions Omega-6 So Close Yet So Far—Omega-3 & Heart Disease Confirmed: EFA Derivatives Made “As Needed”.
http://www.brianpeskin.com/reports/T...EOs%20CAMB.pdf

http://www.brianpeskin.com/PEOstheDifference.pdf

I am often asked how my EFA-based recommendations differ from others. The answer is simple but very significant. The term “Essential Fatty Acids” is being misused so frequently that I was compelled to coin a new phrase, Parent Essential Oils (PEOs). This term “Parent Essential Oils” refers to the only two true essential fatty acids: parent omega-6 (LA) and parent omega-3 (ALA). The term “parent” is used because these are the whole, unadulterated form of the only two essential fats your body
demands, as they occur in nature. Once PEOs are consumed your body changes a small percentage of them—about 5%—into other biochemicals called “derivatives,” while leaving the remaining 95% in parent form.
This is crucial to understand. There are a host of omega-6 and omega-3 oils being sold as EFAs that are not EFAs, but rather nonessential derivatives such as EPA, DHA, and GLA. Fish oils are made up almost exclusively of omega-3 derivatives. Scientifically and
biochemically, calling derivatives such as EPA, DHA and GLA by the term “EFA” is wrong. Derivatives are not EFAs because they are not essential—your body has the ability to make them as needed. My research has shown that supplementing with the derivatives so commonly found in the marketplace and mislabeled as “EFAs” can easily
be harmful to your health. Why are the parent forms—PEOs—so important? Many of the EFAs sold in the stores consist of manufactured EFA derivatives. Your body doesn’t need or want these derivatives, because it makes its own derivatives out of the Parent Essential Oils (PEOs) you consume as it needs them. Taking fish oil and other health-food-store “EFAs” often overdoses you with derivatives, which can be very harmful.

Overdose Symptoms of Omega 3 Oil - Watch Out for Overdose Symptoms of Omega 3 Oil!

Be very careful with Fish oil supplement.

Yes, it's true that your body CAN make them, but it needs certain enzymes and nutrients

Yay, If the body is supplied with all the essential nutrients surely it wouldn't be a problem. If not then we would likely fall ill with many essential nutrient deficiencies, not just an omega deficiency.

[liamona]

Originally Posted by escapee

Be very careful with Fish oil supplement.

Yay, If the body is supplied with all the essential nutrients surely it wouldn't be a problem. If not then we would likely fall ill with many essential nutrient deficiencies, not just an omega deficiency.

Forget supplements or worrying about conversions, why not just eat (small oily) fish? Then you know you're getting all the DHA you need.

I forgot to quote from the article on Prostaglandins that "Some population groups that have been largely carnivorous for generations, such as the Eskimo and Irish seacoast peoples, also lack these enzymes."

Also:

"The desaturase enzyme systems do not work well in infants. This is why mammalian milk is rich in long-chain fatty acids of both pathways--AA, EPA and DHA. DHA, the end product of the omega-3 pathway, is essential for the development and function of the infant's brain."

[Datum]

DHA is only one tiny issue to look at. Plus, you have to keep in mind, that our body CAN produce it and based on that we can assume that maybe we were capable of producing it more efficiently. Fruit diet offers us a lot more than meat. Fruits have everything!!! Protein, carbs, fat, vitamins, minerals, and!!! phytochemicals. So far we only discovered around 900 of them. Tomato alone has 10,000.
We can assume that 500,000 years ago fruits we more nutrient dense, and our body could synthesize missing links.

[liamona]

Originally Posted by Datum

DHA is only one tiny issue to look at. Plus, you have to keep in mind, that our body CAN produce it and based on that we can assume that maybe we were capable of producing it more efficiently.

I hope you are feeling better! Your post seems like it was written with energy.

Anyway, DHA may be a tiny thing, but it's essential for brain development, especially for young children. I think it's one of those nutrients you have to decide on your own whether or not you're getting/producing enough of. If you're in one of those ethnic groups that are used to eating lots of fish, or have diabetes or cancer, then you may want to supplement, if you're averse to eating fish.

Fruit diet offers us a lot more than meat. Fruits have everything!!!

Wait—we just decided that it doesn't have DHA or EPA! LOL.

[Datum]

Wait—we just decided that it doesn't have DHA or EPA!

It has seeds. We can convert ALA to DHA. Kiwifruit seeds have a lot of ALA.

[liamona]

Originally Posted by Datum

It has seeds. We can convert ALA to DHA. Kiwifruit seeds have a lot of ALA.

But fruits don't contain DHA. Only animal foods do.

[Datum]

But fruits don't contain DHA. Only animal foods do.

I do not understand your point. If we can convert ALA to DHA. Why would we need to get DHA from animal flesh?

[liamona]

Originally Posted by Datum

I do not understand your point. If we can convert ALA to DHA. Why would we need to get DHA from animal flesh?

Because a food that contains a nutrient is not the same as a food that doesn't. Fish contain DHA, flax don't. Your body uses the DHA from fish readily; it may or may not be able to convert the ALA to DHA if you eat flax.

[Datum]

2 liamona,

I think you completely lost the track of this discussion. It does not matter how my body uses DHA. What is important that A body can manufacture DHA from ALA. So hypothetically we can assume that humans 400,000 years ago could do it more efficiently.

[liamona]

Originally Posted by Datum

2 liamona,

I think you completely lost the track of this discussion.

I consider my recent posts as answers (and re-statements) to your statement,

Originally Posted by Datum

Fruits have everything!!!

Because they don't. They don't have DHA or EPA. Or vitamin A, for that matter.

It does not matter how my body uses DHA.

I hope for your sake (especially with your recent bout of the flu—although it appears you're completely recovered! *w*) that your body has all the DHA it needs.

So hypothetically we can assume that humans 400,000 years ago could do it more efficiently.

Possibly. The ones who didn't have DHA-rich foods handy probably were able to convert it better than modern man. But modern (Western) man is likely to consume lots of adulterated omega-6 fatty acids, be diabetic, and deficient in vitamins B3, B6, C, Zinc and Magnesium, all of which interfere with the delta-6 desaturase enzymes working properly in the body.

[escapee]

deficient in vitamins B3, B6, C, Zinc and Magnesium, all of which interfere with the delta-6 desaturase enzyme

Then the real problem is the deficiency of B3, B6, C, Zinc and Magnesium, which are also essential nutrients that can lead a whole host of health problem if in deficient level. Supply the body with all the required essential nutrients then we need not worry so much (except the Eskimos) about the other derivatives or non-essential nutrients.

I forgot to quote from the article on Prostaglandins that "Some population groups that have been largely carnivorous for generations, such as the Eskimo and Irish seacoast peoples, also lack these enzymes."

This is correct.

[sk8joyful]

Originally Posted by Writertype

Check out stories of people who really love a given diet-- vegetarianism, veganism, raw food. They will all rave about the abundant energy they have, the decreased need for sleep, how it totally changed their life.
You can also find tons of amazing before and after pictures. That's great--
I have been obese in the past and worked down to a healthy weight (as determined by BMI) and a good body shape so I know how much the transformation can help. I am aware that eating better really does lead to physical and mental benefits.

I did it by eating "normal" healthy items, the stuff you would find on the food pyramid-- grilled chicken and fish, rice, lots of vegetables and fruits, milk, and little junk food/soda.
So ultimately I wonder if most of these benefits are 90% mental
(by mental I mean placebo, like actually feeling more happy and confident)

Yes, actually the mind's processes like "feeling more happy and confident", and more targeted strategies like these carefully helpfully implanted, and encouraged to grow & develop.. inside a person, demonstrate how people (handicapped; stuck with yucky feed-tubes) yet can be successfully facilitated in their 'self-healing' what pleasure! it is, to witness a person allowing her/himself from heart dis-eases, diabetes, cancer, etc. etc. to change & heal, it's very empowering, to notice how 'choosing' feeling happy & confident does free-up increasing energy-abundance for all concerned.