About Omega 3 and 6 and its benefits
Omega-3 and Omega-6 are two types of fatty acids that are referred to as essential fatty acids. Essential means that they are required by the body for proper functioning, but the body cannot create them itself. Therefore, it is important that omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are consumed in the food we eat, similar to vitamins and minerals. The body uses Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids for hormone and enyzme production as well as cell growth and division.
The essential fatty acids, Omega-3 and Omega-6 also have many other benefits for the body. They are crucial in reducing hypertension, arthrities and migraines. Probably the biggest direct health function of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids is in the direct reduction of cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood. The effect that these fatty acids have in the reduction of cholesterol is significant along with the overal reduction in blood pressure that results from adding Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids to a person´s diet.
Other than helping to control cholesterol levels in the blood, Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids also play a crucial role in controlling inflammation and help to eleviate the symptoms of arthritis. Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids also are essential in the formation of healthy hair, skin and nails.
While Omega-3 and Omega-6 are closely related, they are used seperately by the body and are not interchangable. The body needs both of them to provide the best possible health benefits. Omega-3 fatty acids are generally lacking in most western diets because they come from mainly oily fish like salmon and mackeral, which are not common in western diets. Omege-3 fatty acids can also be found in most nuts and seeds as well as certain types of oils like canola. Omega-6 fatty acids come primarily from unsaturated vegetable oils, seeds and nuts.
In a typical western diet, it is important to counteract the large amounts of cholesterol and other heart-unfriendly foods that we eat. Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are one of the few foods that actually can reduce the amount of harmful cholesterol and triglycerides in the body. Their importance reaches much further than that though, as they are crucial in the construction of many hormones that control everything from mood and personality, to reproduction. Most nutritionists recommend that oily fish such as salmon be eaten twice or more a week and that individuals pay attention to which vegetable oils they are using to ensure that Omega-6 fatty acid is found in it.




