Americans consume a large portion of their total fat intake as margarine
(14).  This fat product as been highly marketed so that people think they are helping their health by switching from butter to margarine.  The problem is that margarine are so highly processed that the fat by-products left in margarine may lead to health problems.  Margarines are made by starting with a seed which is high in PUFAs (sunflower, safflower, etc) and then processing it (hydrogenating) to make it more butter-like in terms of texture and shelf life.  The process of hydrogenation requires a metal catalyst, like nickel, and is stopped when the margarine looks butter-like, without regard to the "unnatural" fat by-products which have been produced
(13).  These by-products include trans fatty acids, lipid peroxides and other potentially toxic compounds.  We have already discussed the problems with lipid peroxides, but what about trans fatty acids.  Finally, some large studies have been published with suggest that ingestion of trans fatty acids are considered a risk factor for heart disease (15).  Trans fatty acids can also block the bodies ability to use EFAs in the production of eicosanoids (see diagram) and they may lessen the transfer of the life giving nutrient, oxygen, across cell membranes (16).
In summary, even though adequate amounts of omega-6 fatty acids may be consumed in the American diet, they may be mostly damaged (i.e. of a poor quality) and thereby people have a relative deficiency.  The consumption of trans fatty acids may further exacerbate that relative deficiency since it can block the proper use of the omega-6s.  Omega-3 food sources (fish, walnuts, flaxseeds) are not common in the American diet and are especially vulnerable to oxidative damage, so Americans can readily be deficient in these types of EFAs.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS
There are currently hundreds of animal and human studies demonstrating the importance of EFAs to optimum health.  The following information is a  sampling of the types of health problems with supporting scientific literature which can be helped with adequate EFA intake (food or supplementation).

AGING - EFA deficiencies have been reported to account for numerous problems associated with aging.  Changes in cell membranes which seem to occur with aging have been associated with diminished omega-3 EFA intake (17).  For example a clinical problem associated with aging is diminished brain function.  In human cell lines and animal models a deficiency of  omega-3 EFAs has been found which may account for some age-related changes (18, 19).  A major theory to explain the effects of aging is the free radical theory.  The chronic effects of high oxidative stress (please see monogram for Anti OX 18) have been shown to lead to cell and tissue damage.   One of the main intracellular antioxidant substances is gluthathione (20).  A deficiency of omega-3 EFAs is associated with a decrease in antioxidant function of gluthathione (21).

ALLERGIES - Both the role of EFAs in maintaining proper cell membrane function and integrity and their role as precursors to specific eicosanoids may account for the success of using EFA supplements in the treatment of various allergic problems.  Allergic problems such as atopic eczema, food allergies, and asthma may well benefit from EFA supplementation (22,23).  It has even been proposed that atopic individuals may have an especially high requirement for essential fatty acids (24).

ARTHRITIS - see inflammatory conditions

CANCER - There are many studies which clearly demonstrate that omega-3 fatty acids can help kill cancer cells in culture and therefore may be helpful in the treatment of cancer (25, 26).  Liver cancer, an especially aggressive type of cancer with few effective chemotherapuetic treatments, may be particularly responsive to EFA supplementation as a way to kill liver cancer cells and possibly improving the killing effects of radiation ( 27).  Dr. Johanna Budwig from Germany, has for many years treated (untreatable) cancer patients with a combination of flaxseed oil and a high sulfur protein source (like cottage cheese).  Dr. Budwig explains that she is supplementing this oil-protein combination as a way to improve the persons ability to absorb energy from the sun (28).  In other words she is using the special electromagnetic/chemical properties of the omega-3 fatty acids found in flaxseed oil as a way to treat cancer (29).  Her long, and reportedly successful clinical use of EFA supplementation in this way just confirms the other numerous reports of omega-3 fatty acids and there importance in preventing and treating different types of cancers.
 
DEPRESSION (other psychological problems) -  Psychological problems such as depression, schizophrenia and other affective disorders may actually be helped by EFA supplementation (30, 31).

FATIGUE - please see under immune system problems

HEART DISEASE - Once again there are many, many studies which suggest the critical importance of a proper intake and balance of EFAs in heart disease (32)  Researchers have found that both GLA (omega-6) and EPA (omega-3, fish oil) can effectively lower blood cholesterol and other lipid risk factors for cardiovascular disease (33, 34).  EFAs may also help prevent coronary heart disease because their eicosanoid products can decrease platelet aggregation and relax vascular smooth muscle (35, 36).

INFLAMMATORY CONDITIONS - Because inadequate intake of EFAs can lead to an imbalanced production of series 2 eicosanoids (which are pro-inflammatory) there are many studies reporting an improvement of inflammatory conditions following supplementation with omega-3 and omega-6 EFAs.  Arthritis has been reported numerous times to respond to a supplement of EFAs (37, 38).  Ulcerative colitis and chronic asthma (both conditions of long term inflammation) can also be helped by EFA supplementation (39, 40).

IMMUNE SYSTEM PROBLEMS - Diets deficient in omega-3 EFAs may significantly contribute to autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis (41, 42.)  Sjogren's syndrome may also be helped with EFA supplementation (43).  Chronic fatigue syndrome (also known as chronic fatigue immune dysregulation syndrome) is considered to be an immune deficiency problem.  This common ailment may well be benefited from the intake of properly balanced EFAs (44).

NEUROLOGICAL PROBLEMS - EFAs may be helpful in the treatment of a variety of neurological problems as diverse as multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson's (45).  Linoleic acid (omega-6) has been reported to be low in the blood of patients with MS compared to controls (46).  A number of small clinical trials suggest that EFA supplementation may be beneficial to MS patients (47, 48).   Even diabetic neuropathies may be responsive to EFA (GLA) treatment (49).


PMS - There are reports of significant symptomatic relief for women who had therapy-resistant PMS when supplementing with EFAs (50).  A number of symptoms which are typically part of PMS appear especially responsive to GLA supplementation including mastaglia , irritability, and depression (51).  Even breast pain from fibrocystic breast disease may be helped by a supplementation of GLA (52).

PREGNANCY/NURSING WOMEN (DEVELOPMENT)- Research has shown that omega-3 fatty acids are crucial for normal development (9).  If the mother is deficient in omega-3s then the nursing infant is going to be deficient, which means the child's nervous and immune systems may not develop fully.   A study at the Mayo Clinic found that of 19 pregnant women eating a standard American diet, all 19 were deficient in omega-3 fatty acids (53).

SKIN CONDITIONS - Deficiency of EFAs in many species is manifested early on as skin changes.  Skin becomes rough and inflamed with a poor wound healing capacity (54).  Just about any type of dermatitis can favorably respond to EFA supplementation.  Topical application along with oral supplementation may speed the effectiveness of EFAs.  Eczema, psoriasis and acne all have been shown to respond to EFA supplementation (55, 56, 57).

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT - Even though dietary fat has been implicated as the main contributor to weight gain both animal and human studies have actually found that EFA supplementation can lead to weight loss.  EFAs are thought to lead to weight loss because of their ability to stimulate thermogenesis (58).  Thermogenesis is the process by which the body can "waste" calories (see monogram for Pro-Trim).  A number of clinical trials with obese patients have demonstrated that EFA supplementation is an effective weight loss prescription (59, 60). 

PRINCIPLES OF THERA BLEND
o To provide a high quality, balanced, comprehensive source of EFAs.
o To use as a long term supplement of EFAs since high quality EFAs
     are difficult to obtain from a standard American diet.
o A highly nutritive food oil blend which  is pleasant tasting and
    can be used on salads and other colds food applications.
o Because of the very high PUFA content of TheraBlend, it should not
    be used as a cooking oil.

POSSIBLE APPLICATIONS OF THERA BLEND
o Use TheraBlend oils as a long term food EFA source to make up for
    dietary deficiency.
o Prescribe several tablespoons daily as a supplement of EFA in the
    treatment of the health problems listed above.
o EFAs are so crucial to skin health that just about any skin condition
    can be improved by an oral and topical application of TheraBlend.
o EFAs are readily absorbed through the skin, so that an EFA
    supplement can be obtained transdermally.