The consensus of opinions from an internet search is that, “No it can’t!” Yet the AI popup says:

Yes, omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce joint pain and inflammation . . . .

So who is right? In a way, both sides are right depending on how the test is conducted!

Glaring differences of opinions about Omega-3 fatty acids have plagued settled science for decades. If Omega-3 actually worked as numerous studies suggest, that would make many prescription drugs obsolete. The consequence of that has created many deceptive studies. It’s the same old story—follow the money.

Nine years ago, the prestigious John P. A. Ioannidis, a physician-scientist and professor at Stanford University who works in evidence-based medicine, epidemiology, and clinical research, headed up a team that published “How to Survive the Medical Misinformation Mess.” He summarized it in four parts.

1. Much published medical research is not reliable or is of uncertain reliability, offers no benefit to patients, or is not useful to decision makers.
2. Most healthcare professionals are not aware of this problem.
3. Even if they are aware of this problem, most healthcare professionals lack the skills necessary to evaluate the reliability and usefulness of medical evidence.
4. Patients and families frequently lack relevant, accurate medical evidence and skilled guidance at the time of medical decision-making.

This is why everyone needs to know the settled science behind Omega-3. Without knowing the background, then nothing makes sense. It got started in 1985 when William E.M. Lands, an American nutritional biochemist, started describing the consequences of imbalanced dietary intakes of Omega-3 and Omega-6 nutrients. In the early 1990s Artemis Simopoulos, an American physician and endocrinologist, founder and president of the nonprofit educational organization Center for Genetics, Nutrition and Health and a founding member of the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids in 1991, started publishing numerous studies about the importance of balancing the essential fatty acids (EFAs).

Their studies clearly showed, that prior to the invention of grain farming, humans had a natural balance of Omega-6 and Omega-3 EFAs of about one to one (1:1). As man changed his diet with new foods, that balance got skewed and the ratio increased from 1:1. When it exceeded 4:1 (more Omega-6), the incidences of chronic diseases in the human population increased! Today, the EFA ratio of most Americans ranges from 15:1 to 20:1 which indicates a severe deficiency of Omega-3 in the diet.

To show how fast the ratio can be lowered to address chronic disease issues, nine years ago a team of researchers studied the results of the diets of three volunteer groups. For 10 weeks these groups were provided different diets at the U.S. Military’s Standard Garrison Dining Facility. The CON group continued with their standard diet, the EXP-Mod group had the high Omega-3 food diet, and the EXP-High group had the high Omega-3 diet with a daily 1,000 mg supplement of Omega-3. At the beginning the ratios of all the participants were about 17:1. The table shows how long it took to lower the ratio of the EXP-High group to 4.05:1.

The study indicates that if someone is suffering from chronic joint pain, just by taking an Omega-3 pill without a major change in the diet, the ratio will hardly budge. Therefore, anyone who wants to discredit Omega-3 can run a “study” with simply an Omega-3 pill for a couple of months. That won’t make a meaningful move in the ratio and the results will show no change. Hundreds of thousands of published reports doing just that have been published in the past 30 years. That’s why the negative myths persist.

Look at the footnotes in the military report. Take note that Slanker Grass-fed Meat supplied the grass-fed beef. In addition, Michael R. Hawes, the “developer” of Omega-3 Chicken (1.5:1) and Christopher Eggs (1:1) supplied the poultry products. In addition Mr. Hawes rounded up many of his associates at small food companies to donate their high Omega-3 products.

The bottom line is that if you want to optimize your health, your EFA balance is critically important. But Omega-3 cannot be taken in a “dose” like as if it was aspirin. It’s our individual body’s EFA Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio that determines its Omega-3 deficiency and that can only be determined by a blood test. The test we recommend comes from Doug Bibus at https://omega3test.com/. Put ‘Slanker’ in the offer code and receive a special discount.

As the military study proves, it takes time to lower the ratio below 4:1. To get there one must permanently focus on avoiding foods high in Omega-6 and eat more foods that are high in Omega-3. This is where our Food Tables come into play and must be used to advantage. Basically the Omega-3 diet includes mostly leafy green vegetables, grass-fed meats, Omega-3 Chicken, and Wild-Caught seafood. Vegetable fats, sugars, excessive salt, and grain-based foods must be avoided.

Everyone should strive for an EFA ratio of less than 2:1 to optimize their long-term health. But remember, it’s not the dose that counts. It’s the totality of the diet that determines the EFA ratio and the closer the ratio is to 1:1 the better the results—especially with reducing pain.

Sources and References

How to Survive the Medical Misinformation Mess by John P. A. Ioannidis, et al.
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0946/8274/3078/files/how-to-survive-the-medical-misinformation-mess.pdf?v=1790910686

Bill Lands’ EFA Education Website by Bill Lands
https://efaeducation.org/

Essential Fatty Acids in Health and Chronic Disease by Artemis P Simopoulos
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0946/8274/3078/files/essential-fatty-acids-health-chronic-disease.pdf?v=1790910689

Blood Fatty Acid Changes in Healthy Young Americans in Response to a 10-week Diet That Increased n-3 and Reduced n-6 Fatty Acid Consumption: a Randomised Controlled Trial by Andrew J. Young, Joseph R. Hibbeln, et al.
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0946/8274/3078/files/blood-fatty-acid-changes-10-week-diet.pdf?v=1790910692

The Best Omega-3 Test by Lipid Technologies (Use offer code ‘Slanker’ to lower the price.)
https://omega3test.com/

Captain of the Happier Meal by Rachael Moeller Gorman, a Dr. Joseph R. Hibbeln interview
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0946/8274/3078/files/hibbeln.pdf?v=1790910696

Slanker’s Food Nutrition Tables Part One
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0946/8274/3078/files/food-analysis-efa-fat-protein-net-carbs-sugar-nutrients-part-1.pdf?v=1790910703

Slanker’s Food Nutrition Tables Part Two
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0946/8274/3078/files/food-analysis-efa-fat-protein-net-carbs-sugar-nutrients-part-2.pdf?v=1790910707