Nature has packed a lot of nutrition in a tiny flake. There are stores of omega where a single omega-3 or omega-6 supplement is the principal. The sources of omega are the green leafy vegetables which we see on a daily basis. They are the colorful plants which are packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and, most importantly, with the omega-3 or omega-6 balance which is so crucial to proper nutrition.
Nutrition is so very important to the body. Omega 3 or omega-6 make up approximately thirty percent of the brain’s weight. That is why omega-3 and omega-6 are called essential fatty acids. They are essential because the body cannot produce them. The body gets them from diet or by supplement.
It is important to get enough omega 3 and 6 whether through diet or through supplementation. The latter is the best method for ensuring that you are getting the highest quality of omega available. In the old days, we got our omega from eating two or three meals of fish per week. These days it behoves us to take a fish oil supplement on a daily basis.
The fact that our body can produce omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids is a sad fact. Our diet includes a lot of foods which contribute to the production of omega 6 and others which basically contribute to omega-3. Omega 6 is probably the most overused of all the essential fatty acids.
How exactly do these two combine to enhance our health? Omega 3s are the precursors to eicosanoids, which basically are responsible for the functioning of all the other essential fatty acids. Omega 3 also helps to develop the brain and studies have shown that people who have sufficient amounts of omega 3 are better able to cope with stress and also possess a stronger attention span.
Omega 6 also plays a crucial role in the human body. If there is an omega deficiency in the system, then the body will convert omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids and use the omega 3’s for energy. However, if the omega 3 stores are low, then the body will convert the omega-6 to omega-3 to fuel the body.
From the above it is clear that the only way to ensure that you are getting the correct amount of omega-3 is to ensure that you have enough omega-3 in your diet. But what kind of omega should you be taking?
There are several sources of omega 3 fatty acids. However, it is important to differentiate between the different types of omega 3 fatty acids. One of the most common types of omega 3 is fish oil. Fish oil contains both omega 3 as well as omega 6 and it is the only omega 3 fatty acid that contains no omega 9.
However, it should not be used as a sole source of omega 3 as it will still include the effects of omega 9. Another well used type of omega 3 is flaxseed oil, which contains either alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
The body needs both of these essential fatty acids in order to function properly, but it is easier for fish oil to convert ALA into EPA and DHA. This means that a fish oil supplement will contain both the omega 3 and omega 6 in the correct proportions.
A third omega 3 is known as olive oil, which contains both omega 3 and omega 6 in a ratio of roughly 4:1. People who consume this oil regularly are at a much lower risk of developing heart disease and colon cancer.
All of these fatty acids are necessary for human health and the only way that we can get them is through diet or through supplementation. With the convenience of modern cooking techniques and food processing, it has become quite easy to increase your daily intake of omega 6 and omega 3.
However, the unfortunate thing is that most of us do not increase our intake of fatty acids in this way. Instead we get more omega 6, through many of our foods, than we do omega 3.
This can lead to an unhealthy balance between the two fatty acids, which can be detrimental to your health. You can determine this balance by ensuring that you eat a healthy diet containing plenty of omega 6 and omega 3.
Since most of us (including those in the medical profession) prefer a healthier lifestyle, we are careful not to increase our intake of omega 6 too much.
One thing that you can do to correct this imbalance is to add a high quality fish oil supplement to your diet, every day. This allows you to maintain a balanced ratio between omega 3 and omega 6.