AIMEGA Whole body health results when all body systems are in balance. No single body system is targeted-we make choices that keep all systems toxin-free and that supply all systems with optimum nutrition. The result is total wellness: waking up every day feeling great! An important part of achieving whole body health is making sure you get important "good" fats-essential fatty acids. AIMega provides us with the means to get a healthy ratio of these fats. Essential fatty acids Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are fats that humans cannot manufacture or synthesize-we must obtain them from our diets. Like vitamins and minerals, they are essential for the body to function. EFAs provide the body with what it needs to manufacture cell membranes. The membrane protects the cell and functions as a "gatekeeper"-it allows certain substances into the cell, while turning away others. If a membrane is damaged, the cell may not get optimum nutrition, nor be able to expel harmful waste products efficiently. Continual and cumulative damage to cell membranes erodes cell health and accelerates aging. Of course, cells do repair or replace membranes, but to do this, they need EFAs. A primary function of EFAs is the production of prostaglandins, hormone-like substances that regulate many body functions, including heart rate, blood pressure, blood clotting, fertility, and conception. Prostaglandins also playa role in immune function, due to how they regulate inflammation, which is a major characteristic of many immune disorders. Prostaglandins both encourage the body to fight infection and prevent the inflammatory response from getting out of control. EFAs are used to manufacture prostaglandins. Without an adequate amount of EFAs and the resulting prostaglandins, the immune response will not be efficient. A growing body of animal and human studies identify the importance of fatty acids in neural development and maturation of sensory systems, particularly in early life. Indeed, research shows that it is critical for the fetus to receive an adequate supply of EFAs, which can only come from the mother's intake of EFAs. According to a special supplement of The American Journal of clinical Nutrition (71, 1 Suppl, January 2000), "The combined results from epidemiologic, animal, and clinical studies on these lipids [EFAs and unsaturated fatty acids] suggest that we may be dealing with a new class of micronutrients. The brain and nerve development of growing fetuses and newborns depend critically on the presence of arachidonic and docosahexanoic acids, and highly unsaturated fatty acids may be a factor in the development and the severity of some degenerative disorders, i.e., cardiovascular disease and conditions with immunoinflammatory components and of brain function disturbances and some forms of cancer." Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids There are two families of EFAs, the omega-3 and omega-6. .Omega-3 fatty acids are made from linolenic acid, and the omega-6 fatty acids are made from linolenic acid. Consuming both linolenic and linoleic fatty acids allows the body to make all the essential fats it needs. The body uses both of these-linolenic acid and linolenic acid-to also manufacture other EFAs. The body uses linolenic acid to produce both docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and uses linoleic acid to produce arachidonic acid (M) and gamma linoleic acid (GLA). Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids affect growth, vitality, and mental state, and are involved in converting food substances into usable energy and then transporting that energy throughout the body. They favorably affect atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, inflammatory disease, and perhaps even behavioral disorders. In a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (71, 1 5uppl: 3275-305), children with lower compositions of total omega-3 fatty acids had significantly more behavioral problems, temper tantrums, and learning, health, and sleep problems than did those with high proportions of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 deficiencies are associated with neurological impairments, such as decreased memory and mental abilities, tingling sensation of nerves, poor vision, increased tendency to form blood clots, diminished immune function, increased blood triglycerides and cholesterol, impaired membrane function, and growth retardation, particularly in infants, children, and pregnant women. Omega-6 deficiencies are associated with scaly skin, eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, and hair loss. Deficiencies can also lead to liver damage, kidney damage, slow healing of internal injuries, sterility in men, and negative effects on the circulatory system. Circulatory problems can include elevated blood triglycerides and cholesterol, increased blood pressure, impaired membrane function, hardening of the arteries, artery obstruction, and incorporation of cholesterol and fat in arterial walls. In children, omega-6 deficiency can result in stunted growth. Flaxseed oil Flaxseed oil is the world's richest source of omega-3 fatty acids, containing more than two times the amount of omega- 3 as an equal quantity of fish oils, which is perhaps a better known source of omega-3s. Flaxseed oil also contains omega-6 fatty acids. The omega-3 fatty acids in flaxseed oil are not identical to those found in fish oil. Flaxseed oil contains alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), while fish oil contains eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The body is able to convert ALA into EPA and DHA. Although DHA and EPA have been studied in greater detail than ALA, research is beginning to show that ALA is important to health. The American Heart Association (AHA) has released a scientific statement and dietary guidelines for health-care professionals in which it notes the beneficial effects of adding linolenic acid to an individual's diet. The AHA publication states that "There is some evidence from epidemiological studies that another omega-3 fatty acid, alpha- linolenic acid, reduces risk of myocardial infarction and fatal ischemic heart disease in women. Several randomized controlled trials recently have demonstrated beneficial effects of both alpha-linolenic acid and marine omega-3 fatty acids on both coronary morbidity and mortality in patients with coronary disease. Because of the beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acids on risk of coronary artery disease as well as other diseases such as inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, the current intake, which is generally low, should be increased." Food sources of omega-3 fatty acids include fish, especially fatty fish such as salmon, as well as plant sources such as Flaxseed and Flaxseed oil, soybean oil, and nuts. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (69, no.5, (May 1999) 890-897) found that after adjustment for age, standard coronary risk factors, and dietary intake of linoleic acid and other nutrients, a higher intake of linolenic acid was associated with a lower relative risk of fatal ischemic heart disease (IHD) in women. The study concludes that 'This study supports the hypothesis that a higher intake of alpha-linolenic acid is protective against fatal IHD." There has also been at least one study looking at ALA and its relation to breast cancer. In this study, it was found that women with high levels of alpha- linolenic acid in their adipose breast tissue have a 60 percent lower risk of breast cancer than women with low levels of the nutrient (Eur J Cancer 36 (2000): 335-40).