Interesting Analogy on the Human Body
In Valter Longo’s book The Longevity Diet, he frames the human body as an army of cells always at war. The enemy’s he lists are oxygen and other DNA and cell-damaging molecules. Also, the immune system is continuously battling bacteria and viruses. Like the needs of an actual army of rations, ammunition, and other equipment, the body needs proteins, essential fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, and even sugars for battles within and outside cells. Insufficient amounts of nutrients lead to the body’s inability to repair, replace, and slows down or even stops the defense system. Damage then accumulates, and harmful organisms like fungi and bacteria proliferate.
Without appropriate nutrients, essential bodily functions are unable to be performed at an optimal level, if even at all.
The most basic way to offset several deficiencies is by taking a high-quality multivitamin with minerals. An Australian study showed taking a multivitamin had a positive effect on a person’s ability to deal with stress and impacting mood in individuals with poor nutrition.
I believe getting our nutrients from the food we eat is the best way, but it isn’t always easy. A multivitamin is like added insurance.
Another vital component is the essential fatty acids, Omega 3 and 6, which are involved in critical processes like inflammation and blood clotting. Inflammation in bodily function is vital for health when speaking of proper immune function and the natural response to injury. But chronic inflammation is credited with much of the health problems of today. Omega 6 fatty acids are pro-inflammatory, while omega 3 is anti-inflammatory. Unfortunately, the modern Western diet is very high in omega 6 and low in omega 3.
The importance of a much more balanced ratio has become a focal point for me due to the emphasis in longevity research. James Clements’s work has shown a scary skew of Omega 6 in stark comparison to our Paleolithic aged ancestors who consumed closer to a ration of 4 to 1. Most estimations I’ve seen start at around 16 to 1 going way higher in modern diets.
Omega 6 fatty acids are founds in pretty much everything. Vegetable oils, like soybean, are very high in omega 6 as well as conventionally raised meat products. This is one of many reasons the LanderMan Plan lists them on the avoid list. So many of the experts claim excessive omega 6, especially in an oxidative form, leads to metabolic diseases such as cancer.
Walnuts, which are touted as high in as high omega 3 consist of almost 5 times omega 6; therefore, they don’t need to be looked at as a way to balance the ratio. Meat products, butter and ghee from grass-fed animals and cold-water fish like salmon are the best way to get omega 3 from dietary means.
Here is an excellent article https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/optimize-omega-6-omega-3-ratio#section1
The LanderMan Plan significantly helps to balance the ratio. Another way we help to ensure is by taking supplements.
Lander and Kamry get algae spray that is lemon-flavored.
My current favorite is by taking krill oil capsules. The krill oil is less likely to be contaminated by heavy metals such as mercury. It also contains Astaxanthin, which is an orange-pinkish carotenoid extensively found in marine organisms and appears to have numerous health benefiting properties.
If you want to get deep into the science here a great article https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3967194/
Takeaways
- Consider taking a high-quality multivitamin if your nutrition isn’t as good as it should be.
- Eliminate the worst offenders of omega 6 contributors – vegetable oils and conventionally raised meat.
- Choose wild-caught salmon and grass-fed butter, ghee, meat, and eggs.
- Consider taking an omega 3 supplement