There’s a lot of talk about how beneficial omega-3 oils are for your health. But no one talks about omega-6. Many more shelf-stable foods contain omega-6 than omega-3, changing the ratio you get of these fatty acids from that of your ancestors. And that could also explain the connection between omega-6 and arthritis. Chances are that you’re eating a lot of omega-6 oils, so you may need to think about reducing this food in your diet, and the pain and inflammation it may cause, as much as possible.
Omega-6 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats that are found in nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils. These fatty acids can be quite good for you when eaten in place of the saturated fats that are found in meats and dairy products, and if eaten in the right amounts. Your body needs fatty acids and can’t make all of them on its own. They can improve your heart health and are anti-inflammatory in the right amounts.
However, these fats should only comprise around 5 to 6 percent of your daily food intake because they can increase inflammation in some cases. This is probably the reason for the link between omega-6 and arthritis.
Omega-6 fatty acids can be found in most oils such as corn, sunflower, safflower, soybean, and cottonseed. This means that they’re in most heavily processed foods from margarines and frozen dinners to snack foods. If you’re trying to avoid them, make sure to read your food labels. You should also be trying to increase your omega-3 levels. These are fatty acids that decrease inflammation.
If you are keeping your omega-6 intake at around 5 to 6 percent of your daily food intake, you should be able to enjoy the health benefits of these fatty acids without excess inflammation. However, because so many processed foods contain omega-6 fats, it’s very easy to go over these daily limits, which may explain the link between omega-6 and arthritis.
Studies have shown that people who have a high ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids in their diets suffer from more arthritis pain and dysfunction of the affected limb. The key to lowering this pain and inflammation seems to be in the balance between these two types of fat. Lowering the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 you eat could make a big difference in reducing the levels of inflammation in your body, and help your arthritis overall.
Your body needs omega-6, so you shouldn’t eliminate it from your diet completely. But reducing the amount of omega-6 while increasing the amount of omega-3 you eat could improve your health and arthritis. Eating flaxseed, certain fish like salmon, and taking omega-3 supplements can also help in improving this ratio.
Stress can lead to imbalances in the inflammation circuit. This circuit includes the gut, the microbiome, and the immune system. When you’re sick or when a toxin or other foreign substance enters your body, the inflammation circuit is responsible for expelling it. It causes redness, pain, and swelling as it expels the invader. This type of inflammation is normal and healthy. But when inflammation becomes chronic, it becomes damaging and has been linked to several serious disorders.
High stress levels and high cortisol levels can also cause chronic inflammation throughout the body. Stomach upsets, the continuous excitation of the immune system, and the dominance of bad bacteria in the microbiome cause inflammation to get out of control. And the link between omega-6 and arthritis shows how the situation can get worse.
Chronic inflammation worsens symptoms associated with the aging process, including arthritis. Leukocytes, the white blood cells involved in chronic inflammation, can attack the body’s own tissues. This worsens arthritis and causes additional inflammation. And if you ignore the link between omega-6 and arthritis, then eating these fats will only worsen the inflammation and your arthritis symptoms. This will create more stress, exacerbate the imbalances in the inflammation circuit, and worsen your overall physical health. This is a vicious cycle, one of many that can occur when you are under chronic stress.
One of the consequences of chronic stress is Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome (AFS), which is brought on by prolonged, high stress levels. The mechanism that activates during times of stress, known as the NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) Stress Response, relies heavily on the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands excrete cortisol, which prepares your body’s systems to react to the cause of the stress. But when this system is active over a long period, like it often is in modern life, adrenal fatigue can result.
The stress that can bring on AFS can come from anything and it’s usually a combination of factors. Work stress, relationship problems, lifestyle, diet, and pain or discomfort can all be triggers. That’s why the link between omega-6 and arthritis is so important. If you suffer from arthritis or joint pain, then you need to find ways to reduce or eliminate its negative effects so that you can start to recover from AFS.
Eliminating sources of inflammation circuit dysfunction is an important way to help reduce arthritis symptoms. The link between omega-6 and arthritis isn’t totally understood. But if you suffer pain or flare-ups, it’s worth reducing the amount of fatty acids you eat to see if they’re the cause.
© Copyright 2020 Michael Lam, M.D. All Rights Reserved.
Omega-6 fatty acids are vital for general wellbeing. However, if eaten in the wrong amounts, these fatty acids can increase inflammation and cause other health concerns. The link between Omega-6 and arthritis isn’t well understood yet, but flare-ups may occur if you eat too much of these fatty acids.
