Healthy and Anti-inflammatory Fats

Fat is crucial for brain function and development.  The addition of cod liver oil has been particularly beneficial for autistic spectrum disorders – increasing mood, improving cognitive function, aiding healing, and reducing inflammation. Many fats are healthy – while others are unhealthy. On the healthy and anti-inflammatory side is omega 3 – fish oil, cod liver oil, flax oil, and animal fats from pastured animals (grass fed). These omega 3s have (or in the case of flax convert to)  wonderful anti-inflammatory fatty acids – EPA and DHA.  They provide many benefits; however, quality is key.  Particularly for animal fats quality is essential, commercial animal fats are quite inflammatory; where as, grass-fed or pastured  fats such as butter and dairy fat, animal fat, pastured eggs have great anti-inflammatory properties and healing compounds (including butyric acid in dairy fat). Trans fats are the main fat I would consider very unhealthy such as those found in commercial mayonnaise, margarine, and many processed foods.  Additionally, commercial animal fats as mentioned above, from conventionally-raised animals are also unhealthy – with higher levels of arachadonic acid and other inflammatory compounds (such as those created from the animals eating grain), and lower levels of anti-inflammatory fats such as DHA. Therefore, quality is key.  For inflammation of the gut, brain, skin or other conditions, try cod liver oil.  The addition of naturally-occurring vitamin A aids healing and has been shown in Mary Megson’s research of G-Alpha protein defects to be very helpful with autism.