Evening Primrose oil is a natural source of the very important nutrient, gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), a member of what chemists call the omega-6 family of fatty acids. Fatty acids are important constituent parts of all fats. The body for reasons of health, is required to make GLA from linoleic acid, the head of the Omega-6 family line. Linoleic Acid is found in the common vegetable oils with omega-6 content, such as com oil, canola oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil, peanut oil, sesame oil and olive oil as well.
Why is Supplementation of GLA Beneficial?
For many North Americans, the conversion of linoleic acid to GLA is difficult to accomplish because they lack adequate levels of vitamins B6 and B3, as magnesium and zinc. Furthermore, the conversion is blocked in proportion to the amount of trans-fatty acids and saturated fat in one's diet, which in North America can be significant. Trans-fatty acids are structurally twisted fatty acid molecules, so that they cannot fulfill the 3-dimensional structural requirements of fatty acids. Trans-fatty acids are created by the extreme high temperatures of standard oil processing and partial hydrogenation. (trans-fatty acids present serious health risks over the long term). Supplementing one's diet with Evening Primrose oil, by-passes the need to rely on the biochemical creation of GLA inside the body from linoleic acid from overly processed vegetable oils found on grocery store shelves.
What Are Some Key Benefits From Supplementation of GLA?
Evening Primrose oil is used to treat premenstrual syndrome (PMS), demonstrating meaningful benefits in up to 90% of users, helps to lower risk for or manage arthritis, helps in diabetic neuropathy, improves hair, nails and skin, lowers the risk for stroke and heart attack by lowering platelet stickiness and inappropriate blood clotting. Many other subtle benefits are also realized.
Firstly, the body is able to make the required amount of GLA, and should be encouraged to do so by ensuring that all of the B-vitamins are consumed daily in 5 to 9 smings of fruits and vegetables. If this is not the case, supplementing all of the B-vitamins is advised. Because zinc and magnesium are also important, and may be lacking, 25 - 50 mg per day of zinc and 300 - 500 mg per day of magnesium are recommended. Try to restrict your saturated fats to no more than 10% of all fat consumed.
Secondly, due to over-processing avoid the common grocery store variety of omega-6 oils like com oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil soybean oil, canota oil etc. as your source of linoleic acid, from which GLA is made in the body. Such grocery store oils are highly processed, robbed of nutrients, and corrupted with some degree of trans-fatty acids. Use extra virgin olive oil as your source of linoleic acid for GLA production. Olive oil also delivers many other health benefits. The extra virgin variety is not heated and is protected by the producers to retain quality as well as its natural nutritional profile. Cold-pressed omega-6 oils can also be used because , because they are spared from the high temperature damage. Nature does not need to be refined.
Thirdly, use cold-pressed flaxseed oil with extra virgin olive oil. Flaxseed oil contains omega-3 linolenic fatty acid that provides necessary counter-balancing of omega-6 linoleic fatty acid. A recommended ratio of olive oil toflaxseed oil is 3 parts olive oil to I part flaxseed oil This delivers one part of linoleic acid to one part of linolenic acid. The average North American ratio is more like 20 parts of linoleic acid (omega-6) to I part linolenic acid (omega-3). This very lop-sided ratio is now being fingered as a major factor in the epidemic rates of heart disease, adult-onset diabetes, obesity, high blood cholesterol and high blood triglyceride. Mixing flaxseed oil with olive oil requires buying flaxseed oil in 8 to 12 ounce bottles, at health food stores or supplying pharmacies.