Omega-3 fatty acids are considered essential fatty acids. They are essential to human health but cannot be manufactured by the body. For this reason, omega-3 fatty acids must be obtained from food. Also known as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), omega-3 fatty acids play a crucial role in brain function as well as normal growth and development.
Omega 3s are formed in chloroplasts of green leaves (and algae) and grass. Omega 3 fatty acids maintain the structure and fluidity of the cell membrane making sure nutrients enter the cell and waste products are removed. As your body can't make these fatty acids - it has to constantly replenish them from food intake.
An imbalance of Omega-3 to Omega-6 fatty acids, can lead to many helath issues. Studies have shown that a diet deficient in essential fatty acids - and that's around 99% of American citizens - can lead to dry skin disorders, heart disease, diabetes, to hyperactivity, learning disorders, and to behavioral problems.
In the late 1970s, scientists learned that the native Inuits in Greenland, who consumed a diet very high in Omega 3 fatty acids, had surprisingly low rates of heart attacks. Since that time thousands of scientific studies have evaluated the multiple ways that Omega 3 fatty acids promotes not only cardiovascular health, but also the healthy functioning of many other biological activities.
The New York Times ran the article "Does Eating Salmon Lower the Murder Rate?" Joseph Hibbeln, a senior clinical investigator at the National Institutes of Health, published a study, provocatively titled "Seafood Consumption and Homicide Mortality," that found a correlation between a higher intake of omega-3 fatty acids (most often obtained from fish) and lower murder rates.
Omega-3 supplements have been linked to improvements in attention and decreased hyperactivity. A British-based study, led by Dr Madeleine Portwood at Durham Local Education Authority, reported in March that three months of supplementation the teenagers' inattentiveness fell from an average of 94 at the start of the trial to a mere 17 per cent at the end.
As opposed to supplementation of this essential fatty acid, we can simply look towards traditionally raised products. These products will typically be more nutritionally balanced and lead to better health. Seeking out food in which you know how it was grown, will give you a more balanced diet. Generally, leading to a healthier life with less of a need for invasive medicine. Our grass finished beef might just be the simple change you are looking for.