Re: BBC Radio 4 Programme on Omega-3 fats and oils
Chris Malcolm
> [also posted to asd-uk, but not cross-posted]
> The Food Programme, broadcast Sunday Oct 25th, 12.30 - 13.00 GMT, to
> be repeated Monday, Oct. 26th, 16.00 - 16.30 GMT.
> A very interesting programme. It started out by noting that although
> polyunsaturated fats are/were generally regarded as healthy, the rush
> away from saturated fats and the massive increase in consumption of
> seed-sourced polyunsaturated fats, e.g. corn oil, canola etc. has
> resulted in our consuming far too much omega-6 fat and not nearly
> enough omega-3 fat (most people here who are diet-aware will already
> know that). In the UK, it was estimated that the ratio of omega-6 to
> omega-3 fats in the diet was around 10:1, and that this ratio was even
> higher in the USA at 20:1 (I don't recall hearing a recommended ratio,
> though).
> A high intake of omega-6 fat was said to be a factor in causing
> obesity. It goes into the cell membranes in preference to omega-3 fat,
> reducing metabolic rate and increasing appetite, resulting in weight
> gain and obesity.
> But the programme went on to say that even the omega-3 fats that are
> now appearing everywhere and being widely advertised as healthy, are
> almost all short-chain fats derived from vegetable sources and are
> actually of little use. The omega-3 fats that are needed for a healthy
> heart, brain and immune system are the long-chain types derived from
> fish oils, e.g. EPA and DHA. These contain 20 and 22 carbon atoms
> respectively, compared with, for example, alpha-linolenic acid as
> found in flax oil, with only 18 carbon atoms. It was said that the
> body converts virtually none of the shorter chain omega-3 fats into
> longer chain fats, and that the vegetable sources of omega-3 fats,
> flax oil was specifically mentioned, were virtually useless in this
> respect.
> The recommended _minimum_ daily intake of long-chain omega-3 oils (EPA
> and DHA) was between 550 and 1100mg (that's between a half and one
> gram, near enough). These oils come from fish. But stocks of fish are
> in decline due to over-fishing, so where are they going to come from
> in the future? Apparently algae are the answer, presumably sea-water
> based varieties, that I guess would be grown in vats and then
> harvested and the oils recovered.
> If you missed the programme and can't catch the repeat, you might be
> able to hear it on the 'listen again' facility on the BBC Radio 4
> website. Next week they're doing yogurt.
Agreed, this was a very good programme, very well researched. BBC
Radio Four's Food Programme sets a very high standard, and this was
one of their best.
--
Chris Malcolm
Quentin Grady
Hi Chris,
The broadcast presents the conventional wisdom with regard to
flaxseed oil and fish oil. However it is possible that they have it
partly incorrect. The Lyon trial showed that canola based margarine
reduced the death rate from various heart attacks by 50%. The Lyon
population consumed high levels of saturated fat and cholesterol.
Similar results were obtained in India (predominantly vegetarian) and
Israel. IMHO it pays to have a bob each way and to supplement canola
with fish oil.
--
Quentin Grady ^ ^ /
New Zealand, >#,#< [
/ \ /\
"... and the blind dog was leading."