FADS or fatty acid deficiency syndrome is a relatively new term to denote the health impacts of inadequate consumption of omega three oil . While a scarcity of EFA in your diet is not life-threatening, it is implicated in many other health conditions that may cause risk. Another way of saying this is that the health benefits of a diet rich in good oil are now commonly accepted. This article will explore some of the symptoms which may show up when your body is crying out for the right types of fat.
What is the Recommended Daily Amount of Omega-3?
Since the body doesn’t produce its own fatty acids, the old-fashioned way of ensuring adequate omega three levels of sweet fatty fish at least twice a week. These days, supplementation with algae oil is a safer and more ecological alternative. Most health professionals recommend 250-500 mg of EPA plus DHA per day for a healthy adult. This amount the increased considerably (800-1000 mg daily) in those suffering from heart disease or heart -related conditions. (ref: 1,2,3)
Symptoms of Omega-3 Deficiency
Rough Skin, Rash or Dermatitis
Since essential fatty acids are stored in the cell wall structure, as the skin where if FADS shows up most prominently. Tired, lustreless skin and premature wrinkles may indicate a system crying out for healthy fats.
Neurological Issues, Mental Health
Since our brains our comprised of around 60% EFA, an inability to concentrate, low mood or marked mood fluctuation may indicate that your levels of omega three are too low. Several studies point to the increase in depression over the last few decades in Western countries, with the increase in cardiovascular disease and mental health disorders. These papers hypothesise that environmental influences and particularly dietary intake of long chain omega-3 oils may be fundamental aspects to this troubling trend. This research is supported by several other studies which compare per capita fish consumption with national occurrences of depressive episodes. National Health Medical Research Council. Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand Including Recommended Dietary Intakes. NHMRC; 2006.)
Ear Wax Accumulation
One of the unexpected benefits of omega three oils seems to be that healthy levels prevent the wax from hardening in the canals so that it can easily be expelled on its own. Many have professionals now recommend EPA and DHA supplementation as an alternative to ear drops.
Wound Healing
A number of interesting studies point out a close correlation between improve wound healing and higher blood plasma levels of essential fatty acids. As well as exhilarating the closure of open wounds, EFA’s may also minimise scar formation (5).