Fat content and fatty acid composition of seed oils

Index

From Udo Erasmus' book,

Fats that Heal Fats that Kill

Explanation of chemical symbols:

18:3w3 =  18 carbon fatty acid with three double bonds at the 3, 6, and 9 carbon positions, and  w3 means that first double bond is at 3. carbon position

w = [read "omega"]

Fat content and fatty acid composition of seed oils (%)

*     Includes up to 2% GLA  -  Gamma Linolenic Acid

**   Includes 9% GLA

*** Includes up to 5%erucic acid

FATS - What are the real issues?

A lot has been said about fats, much of it confusing, some of it misleading. You should have a clear, sensible approach to fat consumption in a healthy diet by following these simple guidelines:

• Good balance in diet  between  LA(w6)  and    LNA(w3)   fatty acids is (w3) LNA 1:2 LA (w6)

• Modern diet imbalance:      (w3) LNA 1:10 LA (w6)

• Use only cold pressed (expeller pressed) nonrefined oils, ( keep refrigerated )and non heated not exposed to the light or air
• No margarine (margarine is made from hydrogenated fats, and refined oils, that why it is hard )
• No Hydrogenated Fat ( HF ) (HF is made from trans fatty acids)
• No Oils from Supermarket , they are heated and refined (EFA are removed) (transparent bottle means that oil will not be harmed by light, and that mean that oil does not have EFA );  If oil is kept in the usual shelves (out of refrigerator) that mean that oil does not have EFA
• The most dangerous fats are typically found in margarine, shortenings, and heated oils.

Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) Chemical Formulas

  This EFA is called Linoleic Acid (LA) and is poly-unsaturated.   LA is an 18 carbon chain fatty acid with two double bonds in the middle and is missing four hydrogen atoms, all on one side.   The first double bond occurs after the 6th carbon atom. Because of this, LA is sometimes referred to as the W6 EFA.     Because of the four missing hydrogen atoms, LA is even more bent than Oleic Acid, giving it a melting temperature of 23 degrees F (-5C).      LA is fairly unstable, reacting with light and oxygen.

This is Alpha Linolenic Acid (LNA). It is an 18 carbon fatty acid with three double bonds at the 3, 6, and 9 carbon positions.  LNA is missing 6 hydrogen atoms, again all from one side. Because of the first double bond occurring at the 3rd carbon atom, LNA is sometimes referred to as the W3 EFA.  It is sometimes referred to as a super unsaturated fatty acid (SUFA), even though it is also poly-unsaturated. Because LNA is bent more than the others, it has the lowest melting point of the three, 10 degrees F (-12 C). (I have a bottle of it in my freezer and it is still liquid!). LNA is 5 times more unstable than LA and quickly goes rancid if exposed to light or oxygen. It is so unstable, in fact, that when it is pressed from the seeds that possess it, the pressing must be done in the total absence of light and oxygen. It must be handled in this way right through to the packaging stage, then quickly refrigerated or frozen.

Books by Udo Erasmus

Fats That Heal, Fats That Kill: The... by Udo Erasmus US$ 16.07 ... available on Amazon.com More about this book / Author
Choosing the Right Fats... by Udo Erasmus US$ 9.95 ... available on Amazon.com More about this book / Author
Fats and Oils: The Complete Guide t... by Udo Erasmus US$ ?? ... available on Amazon.com More about this book / Author

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