Pay Attention

Column $245

February 21, 2020 was the date of my first COVID-19 column. That was exactly ten weeks ago. In that column I emphasized the importance of building immunity as the primary defense against the virus. I also reminded everyone that building immunity is not a quick fix in that it takes ten weeks for significant improvement. But I wonder, how many people have been paying attention?^{1 2}

More people than normal have been shopping the online meat stores during these pandemic times. Some found the grass-fed outfits and some even discovered that there is such a thing as Omega-3 meats. In so doing some of them has been exposed, in varying degrees, to the Omega-3 story. Yet still way too few consumers actually understand it. For sure there are some hardcore nutrition types who have been studying the actual science behind biology and nutrition for many years. They not only understand EFAs but live the science in spades. They do not need reminders.

I’ve published many columns explaining how people have suppressed their chronic diseases with diet. Amazingly, or maybe not so amazingly in this day and age of media propagandizing, for most folks the story about Omega-3's role in the diet and in the human anatomy still falls on deft ears. They never got the message about the importance of the ratio between Omega-6 and Omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs). It went right over their heads when told that it takes a 1:1 or 2:1 EFA balance to suppress heart disease, diabetes, asthma, arthritis, acne, anger, anxiety, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, dementia, Crohn's, cancer, obesity, COPD, and a whole host of other chronic diseases. But, now with the COVID-19 pandemic scare going full blast, has that caught their attention enough to motivate them to practice real nutritional science?^{3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12}

My bet is that with the country opening up again, a majority will just return to doing what they’ve always done. They will not study EFA science. They will not study my Food Analysis Tables. They will not take the Omega-3 Test to determine their own EFA ratio. They will perpetuate their chronic diseases by continuing to treat (rather than heal) them with drugs and operations. And, especially if a COVID-19 vaccine is developed, they will forget about the importance of building strong personal immunity. Of course there will certainly be a few converts and to them we tip our hat. Change is not easy.^{13 14 15}

Before man invented farming around 10,000 years ago, most of what he ate had the proper EFA ratio. That’s why our bodies never had to regulate the ratio between Omega-6 and Omega-3 EFAs in the membranes of our cells. But after mankind started farming and creating surpluses out of what were rare food types, his diet started including more foods that were high in Omega-6 and low in Omega-3. This is why the term Paleo Diet came along. It was a dietary attempt to replicate the original caveman diet in order to restore fundamental health. Unfortunately the Paleo Diet was bastardized by marketers and for some years now the term has been nonsensical.

All foods are packages of chemicals. The chemicals are far more powerful than any farming applications people have been conditioned to fear. In fact, most plants produce pesticides that are more powerful than the EPA would allow in farming practices. The vast majority of chemicals in plants are carbs, sugar, fats, proteins, minerals, vitamins, and more. To be healthy we must minimize the sugar, cut way back on carbs, balance the EFAs, while getting the other nutrients we need. With the help of laboratories all over the nation the Federal government has measured and documented the chemistry of a vast number of foods (whole and processed) and that includes their EFAs and ratios. Just like when measuring sugar, carbs, vitamins, and other nutrients, researchers focused on Omega-6 and Omega-3 measures for a reason. Have you paid attention?¹⁶

Because the numbers are out there, we can look at various whole foods and also the ingredients in processed foods to determine just how much Omega-6 and Omega-3 may be in a serving. That way we can avoid the high Omega-6 foods and eat more of the foods that provide properly balanced EFAs. When the military did the ten-week test to see how fast they could change the ratio, the troops ate very precise meals. They had many different Omega-3 foods and Omega-3 condiments which were crafted for the study and I provided the study with grass-fed and Omega-3 meats. And still, even with a “perfect” EFA-balanced diet, it took ten weeks to get the individual EFA ratios down to safer levels near 4:1. For those of you out there in the general population, you don’t have the luxury of the regimented, military-style, perfectly-balanced EFA diet. Therefore your balanced EFA diet will only occur if you are paying attention to your food choices and utilizing the numbers.^{2 17}

Is it worth it? Well, I say it’s better to be healthy than it is to depend on drugs and operations in order to live. For an absolute fact developing a strong immune system is better than coming down with a severe case of COVID-19 this fall. Yep, it’s still with us and waiting as are all diseases chronic or not.

To your health.

Ted Slanker

Ted Slanker has been reporting on the fundamentals of nutritional research in publications, television and radio appearances, and at conferences since 1999. He condenses complex studies into the basics required for health and well-being. His eBook, The Real Diet of Man, is available online.

Don’t miss these links for additional reading:

1. Coronavirus Immunity by Ted Slanker

2. Blood Fatty Acid Changes in Healthy Young Americans in Response to a 10-week Diet That Increased N-3 and Reduced N-6 Fatty Acid Consumption: a Randomised Controlled Trial by Andrew J. Young et.al.

3. The Importance of the Ratio of Omega-6/Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids by A. P. Simopoulos, PhD

4. You Can Cure Diabetes by Ted Slanker

5. Why Can’t Cancer be Cured? by Ted Slanker

6. Is Asthma Man-Made? by Ted Slanker

7. Fibromyalgia Mystery Solved by Ted Slanker

8. Immunity and You by Ted Slanker

9. Reversing Cognitive Decline by Ted Slanker

10. Crohn’s Disease: Diet Dominates by Ted Slanker

11. Solution to Obesity: Let's Eat by Ted Slanker