DR. GEORGE DEFRANCA
email me!
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • MISSION STATEMENT
  • LOW BACK PAIN HELP!!
  • CHIROPRACTIC
    • Typical Visit: The Examination
    • Treatment Visit
    • Types of Treatments...
  • YOGA, BREATHE, MEDITATE
  • CONDITIONS TREATED...
  • CONTACT US...Ask for an appointment...
  • ARTICLES
    • Antibiotics and ear infections
    • Back Pack Syndrome
    • Catching a cold?
    • Cave Man's diet (Paleolithic)
    • Children and Chiropractic
    • Computer Work Station
    • Creep and Sleep!
    • Dr. DeFranca's Top Ten List
    • The "Fourth Trimester" and Colic
    • Fish Oils and Anti-inflammatory Action
    • Flu Exaggerated?
    • Greens and Genes...
    • Heartburn Tea!
    • How Do We Heal?
    • Hydrogen Peroxide for Colds!
    • Lower Back Pain: The Problem...
    • Meditation Class Notes
    • Mercury In Your Mouth!!
    • Neck Pain: The Problem...
    • Prostate Health
    • School Headache in Kids
    • Sinus Congestion
    • Soy Protein
    • Stroke from Spinal Manipulation??
    • Wet Sock Treatment?
    • Worried About the Flu?
    • You Are What You Eat...
  • VIDEOS
    • Abdominal Exercises
    • Balance Training
    • Lower back Exercises
    • Lower Extremity Exercises
    • Mid and Upper Back Exercises
    • Neck Stretches
    • Upper Extremtiy Exercises
  • EXERCISES
    • Abdominals
    • Bridges
    • Cobras / Mckenzie Extensions
    • Dr. DeFranca's Sample Exercise Routine
    • Eye Exercises
    • Foot Exercises: The Short Foot
    • Foot Exercises: Toe Ups and Downs
    • Foot Exercises: Tib Posterior and P. Longus
    • Interval Training
    • Hip Hinge
    • Squats
  • VERTIGO
  • TESTIMONIALS
  • FAQ's
  • FORMS TO DOWNLOAD
  • DR. LINDA LEVINE
  • Dr. George's Blog...
  • COVID-19: What we know...
  • LINKS...
  • New Page

6's vs 3's, What's the difference?

9/7/2013

5 Comments

 
   I often teach  patients that each mouthful of food can inflame you or deflame you. The difference is in the proportion or profile of omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3 fatty acids that are in your diet. Omega-6 fatty acids inflame. They contribute to the inflammatory process by aiding the formation of what are called inflammatory mediators: chemicals that the body makes to enhance inflammation. Examples are prostaglandins or leukotrienes. Some of these are more inflammatory than others, like the ones omega-6 fatty acids contribute to. The trick is to allow your body to produce the less inflammatory ones.
   But where do we get omega-6 fatty acids in our diet? Unfortunately from the very things we love to eat because they look and taste so good:  grains. All grains. Breads, pastas, cereals, corn, etc. Even whole, "healthy and natural" grains.  Genetically we humans are not programmed to optimally process grains and we increase our body's inflammatory profile. That means stiffness, achiness, fatigue, swelling, and even pain. Did you ever load up on a nice pasta meal? How did you feel the next day or two?
   The good news is that omega-3 fatty acids do the opposite: they deflame tissues by producing less inflammatory chemicals. You get omega-3 fatty acids from eating vegetables, fruits, cold-water fish. A prime supplemental source of omega-3's is krill oil. The goal is to keep you ratio of 6's:3's low. Ideally it should be 1:1 but I live in the real world. Try to keep it under 3:1 of 6's to 3's because many studies show that once you get above that ratio, the incidence of chronic inflammatory disease rises (arthritis, heart disease, cancer).
   If you have to eat grains, I suggest that for every handful of grains you eat, eat two handfuls of a non-grain food. For instance, oatmeal is a grain loaded with omega-6's. But if you add a handful each of blueberries and walnuts, you offset the amount of 6's with 3's.
   Control that ratio, and you can control your body's ability to get in trouble with inflammation.
5 Comments
kathi
10/1/2013 04:41:19 pm

I am allergic to shellfish (shrimp, lobster, clams, and not too sure other fish like tuna and haddock). "Googling" around, it was suggested not to take Krill oil if allergic to shellfish. It was suggested to take a vegetarian form of Krill oil. Any ideas?

Also I like the exercise videos on your site. Very helpful.

Reply
Dr. George
10/2/2013 03:19:32 am

Hi Kathi,
Technically, you should be able to take some fish oils or krill as long as the fish protein is removed and you are not too allergic. That is what people are allergic to, the protein, not the oil. Otherwise you can eat what the fish eat: algae. Spirulina algae is a good source. Flaxseed oil is good as are walnuts.

Reply
Kathi
10/3/2013 05:48:03 am

Dr DeFranca thank you so much for your answer. I will look into Flaxseed oil and Spirulina.

Kathryn N. Trow
10/10/2013 10:37:50 am

how about rice?

Reply
Dr. George
10/13/2013 10:31:20 am

Rice does not contain gluten but it can spike your blood sugar and both brown and white rice can have trace levels of arsenic, brown more than white. If you have a problem blood sugar or insulin resistance, I would advise against rice intake. I use it myself but sparingly.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Author

    I am George DeFranca, DC, chiropractic physician in Central Massachusetts since 1982. I love my patients, my practice, and talking and teaching about health. I enjoy the outdoors, especially the ocean and kayakfishing.

    Picture

    Archives

    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2020
    October 2017
    August 2017
    March 2016
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013

    Categories

    All
    Ear Infections
    Growth Hormone
    Miracle Of Chiropractic
    Omega 3
    Omega-3
    Statins
    Tabatas
    Vitamin D Is A Hormone

    Subscribe to DR. GEORGE DEFRANCA - Dr. George's Blog...

    RSS Feed

“Experienced in the safe and effective treatment of joint, muscle, nerve, and soft tissue disorders.”
"Spine...Nervous System...Health"
Dr. George DeFranca

73 Central Street / West Boylston, MA  01583
508-835-2271

Photos used under Creative Commons from mislav-m, Lord Jim, CircaSassy, @alviseni, }{enry, kona99, marco monetti, viZZZual.com