Omega-3 Fats

Fat news

Recently, there has been a lot of news about the importance of Omega-3 fats. It has been suggested that most people, while getting enough Omega-6 fats, are deficient in the Omega 3 variety. This is a cause for concern because, in addition to being important for brain health, eye health and normal growth, Omega 3's seem to protect us against diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, and Type II diabetes.

There is also a significant body of scientific research that suggests that this lopsided Omega-6/Omega-3 ratio may contribute to the increased incidence of clinical depression.

Step right up and get your essential fatty acids!

Food manufacturers have capitalized on this concern by changing the labels on their products to promote the presence of these essential fatty acids in their products. Supplements abound that promise to fulfill your body's need for Omega 3 fat.

Although we generally hear about Omega 3 fats as a group, the essential member of the Omega-3 family of unsaturated fats is called linolenic acid, (or sometimes alpha-linolenic acid--ALA). It is essential because it cannot be made by your body and must be supplied by the food you eat.

EPA and DHA

It is important to note that, if your body has enough linolenic acid, it can make the other Omega 3 fats that it needs to function, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid DHA, which you may also have heard about in the news.

Sources of Omega 3's

Excellent sources of linolenic acid are walnuts, flaxseed, chia seed and fish.

Caveat: To get the most benefit, flaxseed should be ground (A coffee grinder works great for this purpose!)just before using, since it will begin to deteriorate as soon as the seed is crushed. The ground flaxseed that you see in stores is not as good a choice as freshly ground seed.

How much is enough

It is recommended that at least 2% of your daily calories be in the form of Omega-3 fats. For a person eating 2,000 calories a day, this would amount to about 4 grams of Omega 3 fats.

Interesting Fact: Vegetarians can get their essential Omega-3 fats from walnuts, flaxseed and chia seed. However, these are sources of linolenic acid and not DHA another important Omega-3 fat. Fortunately, linolenic acid is the essential fatty acid, and as long as you are getting enough of this one, your body can produce the other Omega-3 fats that it needs. There are algae that are a vegetarian source of DHA, one of the non-essential fatty acids, and this type is available in supplement form.

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