Back in the 70s people were being encouraged to lower their cholesterol levels by reducing their saturated fat intake and replacing it with polyunsaturated fats. Unfortunately they were not aware that polyunsaturated fats consisted of two types, Omega-3s and Omega-6s. Their diet was already overloaded with Omega-6s, and severely depleted in Omega-3s, in a ratio of around 25-1.
The Omega-6 vegetable oils sunflower, soy and safflower are extremely popular with consumers, these highly processed oils are cheap and much more stable compared to the Omega-3 oils, moreover they are suitable for cooking, whereas Omega-3s are not used in cooking.
As a result of the skewed balance between Omega-6s and Omega-3s, cardiovascular disease is on the increase, as are other diseases which involve inflammation, such as arthritis.
Omega-3s are mostly found in fish and linseed oil, hemp oil has a perfect balance between Omega-3s and Omega-6s, however, for various reasons hemp oil may not be to everyone’s taste.
Many studies have found that the increased consumption of Omega-3 and the reduction of Omega-6 has proved to be of considerable benefit to arthritis sufferers. Populations which have a high fish consumption, and a low intake of saturated fats, have a much lower incidence of cardiovascular disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
Ideally if you can have a daily cod liver oil capsule, ground flaxseed in your muffins or on your breakfast cereal, virgin olive oil as your only cooking and salad oil, and do not use margarines of any type, reduce or eliminate animal fat, then you should see some positive results in your health. Hemp oil, hemp seed, or hemp seed butter is also a great dietary addition for those who have an arthritis.
http://www.sayno2arthritis.com/Hemp_seed_oil_for_Arthritis.html
