Balancing your Diet with Omega-3 vs. Omega-6 Fatty
Acids
By Jordan Rubin – Extraordinary Health Article
 Omega-3 fatty acids have been a part of our diet since the beginning
of humanity, but it has been only in the last 80 to 100 years that we
have almost excluded this vital fatty acid. This is due mostly to our
lack of access to natural sources of omega-3s and dominant intake of
omega-6s in our diet, the latter being an essential fatty acid as
well.
The trouble with the typical American diet, however, is that we
consume too many omega-6 fatty acids compared to omega-3s. The typical
ratio these days is 20 omega-6s to 1 omega-3, and that’s way too high.
While we need omega-6 fatty acids (they are essential), the ratio
shows that we’re getting far too many of them in our diet at the
expense of omega-3s. The bull’s eye ratio to shoot for is around four
omega-6s to one omega-3.
Omega-3s are essential fatty acids that are a collection of several
nutrients, but two important omega-3 fatty acids are eicosapentaenoic
acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Omega-3s can help maintain
a healthy cardiovascular system as well as maintain healthy joints and
EPA and DHA are especially successful at this.
DHA and EPA are omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish, such as
salmon, tuna, lake trout, and herring, and in algae. And they have
plenty of health benefits. For example, the American Heart Association
recommends one to two servings of fish per week for all adults.
Furthermore, it’s believed that EPA plus DHA can provide
cardiovascular protection.
Additionally, the FDA has allowed the following claim on foods and
supplements high in omega-3s: Supportive, but not conclusive, research
shows that consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids may reduce
the risk of coronary heart disease.
But the American Heart Association and the FDA are not alone. The
University of Maryland Medical Center spells out the benefits of
omega-3s as well:
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Omega-3s can support a healthy heart and blood vessels.
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Omega-3s can help maintain blood pressure already in the normal
range.
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Omega-3s may support healthy joints, bones and skin.
DHA, particularly, is essential for proper adult brain function. It is
also essential for the development of the nervous system and for
visual abilities during the first six months of life. And while it’s
true that our bodies naturally produce small amounts of DHA, we still
must be intentional to get the full amount that we need from our diet
or from supplements.
So, don’t miss out on DHA—or EPA, for that matter—two amazing (and
essential) omega-3 fatty acids.
Notes from Christine:
Wild Salmon (Alaskan Salmon) is a great source of Omega 3 fatty acids.
The farm-raised Atlantic Salmon is higher in Omega 6’s because of the
feed given to the fish. Grass fed meats are high in Omega 3’s too,
which includes wild game. Most of our commercial meats are high in
Omega 6’s because they fed grains instead of grasses. Supplementing
with fish oils such as
Cod Liver Oil and
CodMega caps provide a great
source of Omega 3’s and can help balance your Omega 3 & 6 fatty acid
levels.
For more information about Cod Liver Oil by Garden of Life, click here
For more information about CodMega by Garden of Life, click here
For more
information about Oceans 3 Beyond Omega 3, click here
The statements in this article have not been evaluated by the Food and
Drug Administration. The information contained here is not intended to
diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Suggestions and ideas
presented in this document are for information only and should not be
interpreted as medical advice, meant for diagnosing illness, or for
prescriptive purposes. The information in this document is not to be
used to replace the services or instructions of a physician or
qualified health care practitioner. |
