I was shocked to find out that on an anti-inflammatory diet egg yolk and organ meats are warned against. This is due to the high amounts of arachidonic acid that these foods contain. Now traditionally in many cultures organ meats and egg yolks were eaten frequently and prized for their high nutritional content.

My family eats eggs nearly every day. Myself I eat liver several times a week and try to get it into the rest of my family as much as possible. So to find out Arachidonic Acid in these foods was bad and highly inflammatory was a bit shocking.

“You also want to avoid foods that contain arachidonic acid like egg yolks, poultry skin, and organ meats. In response to excess levels of arachidonic acid, certain enzymes that promote inflammation and fuel cancer cell propagation increase in your body, predisposing you to serious age related disorders.” Source: Breakthrough: Eight Steps to Wellness Suzanne Somers Pg76

Inflammation is known to most doctors and scientist as the root cause of chronic disease and aging. Diseases such as Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, asthma and allergies have been linked to inflammation. Even our laugh lines and crow’s feet are caused by the inflammation process of our skin. When you reduce your inflammation then you also reduce the chances of getting these diseases and aging symptoms. (Source: The Inflammation Free Diet Plan)

The good news is that there are health benefits to eating Arahidonic Acid.

Health Benefits (quoted from Wikipedia):
1.    Helps repair muscle tissue.

arachidonic acid is a regulator of localized muscle inflammation, and may be a central nutrient controlling the intensity of the anabolic/tissue-rebuilding response to weight training.

2.    It is good for the brain.

Among other things, arachidonic acid helps to maintain hippocampal cell membrane fluidity[9]. It also helps protect the brain from oxidative stress by activating perioxisomal proliferator-activated receptor-y[10]. ARA also activates syntaxin-3 (STX-3), a protein involved in the growth and repair of neurons[11]. Among other things, arachidonic acid helps to maintain hippocampal cell membrane fluidity[9]. It also helps protect the brain from oxidative stress by activating perioxisomal proliferator-activated receptor-y[10]. ARA also activates syntaxin-3 (STX-3), a protein involved in the growth and repair of neurons[11].

Chris Masterjohn, from Cholesterol-and-Health.com and PhD candidate in Nutritional Studies states that healthy adults need very little of arachidonic acid. The need increases during pregnancy, lactation, in infants, when injured or having a disease that causes oxidative stress. Since arachidonic acid helps repair muscle bodybuilders and those that perform strenuous exercise may want to get it in their diet.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids should not be consumed in large amounts as they can interfere with how arachidonic acid is metabolized.Source: Cholesterol-and-Health

My Conclusion: I will continue eating my egg yolks and organ meats and minimize the polyunsaturated fatty acids.

This post is part of Fight Back Fridays hosted by Food Renegade.

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