Overview
Omega-6 fatty acid is an essential fat in typical American diet obtained from various food sources like soybean oil, safflower oil, corn oil, poultry, and eggs. There is one particular type of omega-6 fatty acid known as gamma linolenic acid (GLA), which is renowned for its amazing disease-fighting abilities. Several studies have shown that this ingredient plays a significant role in combating conditions like diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, eczema, dermatitis, asthma, obesity, and atherosclerosis. Amazingly, GLA can also prevent cancer. Although most people are not getting sufficient quantities of omega-6 fatty acid, there are compelling evidence demonstrating its efficiency in curbing chronic age-related illnesses.
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Anti-inflammatory Properties
GLA sourced from plant seeds is effective in preventing inflammatory health illnesses that occur with age. Aging occurs when enzymes charged with the production of anti-inflammatory molecules from our diets develop defects or becomes inactive. This makes your body prone to inflammatory related illnesses. Studies have shown that supplementation with GLA can help reverse these defects while supplying essential biochemical precursors with powerful anti-inflammatory properties. GLA converts into beneficial prostaglandins (PGE1s) to compensate for this deficiency. This reduces inflammation in cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and lung function. In addition, GLA breaks down harmful compounds and toxins.
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Improves Skin Conditions
As you all know there are different benefits of omega-3 for healthy skin, but in reference to studies conducted in over 20 years ago, it also has been shown that omega-6 fatty acid supplementation can help improve skin conditions like eczema and atopic dermatitis. Eczema, an inflammatory condition of the skin is characterized by flaking, dryness, redness, itching and pain in the inner layers of the skin. People with eczema have defects in their bodies that prevent the natural formation of omega-6 fatty acid from dietary sources. Supplementation with omega-6 fatty acid has been shown to reduce inflammation, scaling, redness and dryness. It has also been shown that omega-6 fatty acid improves dermatitis and other skin problems.
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GLA Prevents Cardiovascular Disease
Chronic, mild inflammation significantly contributes to atherosclerosis. Age and high levels of stress affect the production and synthesis of omega-6 fatty acids in your body by an enzyme called delta 6-desaturate (D6D). According to some health experts, there is a partial explanation for age-related cases of atherosclerosis and GLA supplementation in reducing the risk of the arterial disease once this enzymatic defect has been resolved. When omega-6 fatty acid is introduced into membranes of platelets, white blood cells, and endothelial cells, it stimulates various mechanisms to normalize how cardiovascular system functions by preventing inflammation. Several studies have shown that omega-6 fatty acids prevents clumping of platelets involved in blood clotting, and can lower the risk of heart attack and stroke.
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Omega-6 Fatty Acid and Cancer Prevention
Since 1989, researchers found that omega-6 fatty acid could tame the growth of certain cancer cells in laboratory cultures. A combination of omega-3 fatty acids and GLA can lower levels of inflammatory cytokines in people with colon cancer, which relies on inflation to stimulate the growth of cancerous cells. Clinical trials have also shown that omega-6 fatty acid slows the production of inflammatory prostaglandins in people with prostrate cancer. The progress in the development of lung cancer in mice was inhibited by over 50% when the animals were fed on omega-6 fatty acid-rich diets. Other studies have demonstrated that omega-6 fatty acid makes brain cancer cells more likely to be killed by radiation treatments. Other types of cancer that can be prevented with omega-6 fatty acid supplementation include pancreatic cancer and blood cancer.
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Omega-6 Fatty Acid Fight Obesity and Diabetes
In reference to a new study, there is some link between diabetes and omega-6 fatty acid deficiency. If defects occur in the enzymes that convert dietary fatty acids to GLA, it can make you prone to insulin resistance. This suggests that omega-6 fatty acid supplementation can be effective in preventing diabetes. Animal studies have shown that omega-6 fatty acid can actually prevent chemically induced diabetes and restore normal antioxidant levels in cells and tissues. In addition, it can fight diabetic neuropathy, a painful condition that occurs when the nerves get exposed to high levels of glucose. In a study conducted in rats, treatment with omega-6 fatty acid helped prevent diabetes-induced changes in nerve cells and reverses the condition. It has also been demonstrated in humans that omega-6 fatty acid supplementation for six months improves diabetic neuropathy in obese people being treated for diabetes.
Conclusion
Omega-6 fatty acid has numerous health and beauty benefits. It can be obtained from various dietary sources. However, enzymatic defects in the body can inhibit the conversion of omega-6 fatty acid into a useful form. This makes you prone to very many health problems including diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. It is unfortunate that most people do not get an adequate supply of omega-6 fatty acid in their regular diets. Omega-6 fatty acid supplementation can help improve your overall wellbeing and even reverse the effects that come with these conditions. Check out with your doctor to find if you are getting adequate omega-6 fatty acids in your diet.
Video Health Benefits of Omega 6 Fatty Acids You Should Not Miss
Author Bio
Adonia Dennis (@adoniadennis), by profession a Health, Beauty and Skin Care adviser. She provides solutions related to beauty and skin care problems such as skin hyperpigmentation, aging, dry skin, etc. She is an independent researcher who researches for all type of skin related issues. She also provides solution related to the health problems. She is a passionate blogger who loves to write and share her views on health, fitness and diet. To know more about Adonia, follow her on Facebook, Google +, and Pinterest.