blue artichoke

Omega-3s isn’t my new band (but thanks for the idea, Red Momo), but my new secret society (new? Does that mean there’s an old secret society? Shhh…). The society itself won’t be a secret (look at me, I’m writing about it on the Internet!), but membership will. Sort of like the Freemasons.

So, why the omega-3s? Well, because that’s the key to a super-evolved human race. Omega-3 (aka, ΩΩΩ) is an evolutionary society, and its members will rule the world. And here’s why: Omega-3s are fatty acids derived from plants and marine animals, and are so important for good health that some scientists postulate that these omega-3s are the reason the human brain evolved. Did you know that 60% of the brain is fat? It’s true. And because these omega-3s are fat soluble, the brain just gobbles them up. So does the fat in the body, and the body benefits just as much as the brain. Omega-3 fatty acids reduce the risk of coronary artery disease by increasing the amount of good cholesterol, reducing blood pressure, stabilizing the heart beat, thinning the blood and decreasing the “stickiness” of blood platelets (which leads to blood clots and strokes). They also prevent cancer, especially breast and colon cancer. Sounds good, right? There’s more! They prevent age-related macular degeneration, mitigate autoimmune diseases and relieve depression and several other mental health problems. Neat!

It isn’t just that adequate amounts of omega-3 prevent the development of all these diseases, but an omega-3 deficiency actually leads to some pretty serious health problems: high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, some forms of cancer, diabetes, asthma, hypertension, chronic obstructive lung disease, autoimmune disorders, ADHD and depression. Sound like that covers all the modern Western health issues.

So, where do we get omega-3? The downside is that our bodies can’t manufacture it. We used to get ample amounts back when we ate a whole lot of leafy vegetables and animals that fed on grass. Marine derived omega-3 is found in cold water fish that feed on zooplankton: wild salmon, albacore tuna, Alaskan halibut, sardines, herring, trout, sea bass, and oysters and clams. Plant derived omega-3 is found in flaxseed, canola oil, soy nuts, walnuts, wheat germ and products enriched with omega-3 (such as eggs or meat. Even the tortillas we used last night to make quesadillas were omega-3 enriched). It’s difficult to get enough omega-3 from these plant sources, so it’s best to eat these marine sources 2-4 times per week, or if, like me, you hate fish, a supplement in the form of a fish oil pill 2-3 times per day.

So, if plentiful omega-3 allowed the brain to evolve, then a widespread omega-3 deficiency means a paused evolution or even a devolution, right? This is where ΩΩΩ really shines. Members will form a society of super-evolved and super-healthy people to rule over the omega-3-deficient slobbering masses. You’ll know the deficient by their dry skin, fatigue, brittle nail and hair, constipation, frequent colds, inability to concentrate, depression and joint pain (all symptoms of omega-3 deficiency). You won’t know who members of ΩΩΩ are, but you’ll know who they aren’t. All that’s required for membership is to consume an adequate amount of omega-3, or take a fish pill supplement 2-3 times daily. You can take it with Kool-Aid. It isn’t a cult. First meeting is Sunday at 5pm, location TBA.

Dinner last night: Kielbasa, grilled squash and corn quesadillas