One of the most important questions anyone can ask these days for their health is: what is the proper ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 oils?
Omega-3 and omega-6 are fatty acids. Both of them are vital for your well-being and good health. However, the problem is that the vast majority of people in the Western world have an Omega-3 deficiency while ingesting a too much Omega-6’s.
In short, the ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 oils is way off kilter for optimal health.
First, let’s address the cause of the rampant omega-3 deficiency. The first and foremost problem is the meats we eat. You see, because most animals are mass commercialized they are fed diets of grain and other unnatural substances.
Before this happened, animals were free range and grazed on their natural diets, which, in the case of cows as one example, was grass. Their natural grass diet created naturally lean beef that was high in omega-3 fatty acids.
Grain is fed to fatten the animals up quickly, thereby increasing the profit margins. However, the end result is unhealthy beef.
The same is true all around. Chicken are not fed their natural diets. And forget about the salmon you buy at your grocery store, which is most likely farm raised. Farm raised fish do not have high omega-3 oil content because they are no longer eating their natural diet, which was responsible for them being healthy.
You may be wondering what is the optimal health enhancing ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 oils. The answer is 1:1. In short, you should eat as much omega-3 as you do omega-6.
But what does your typical Westerner eat? For most people, the typical omega-3 to omega-6 ratio is now as high as 1:50! And it’s only a few rare folks who actually do better than 1:20. That means that someone who is actually eating the typical American diet may only be consuming 1 part Omega-3 for every20 parts Omega-6!
Many natural health advocates are pointing to this severely out of whack ratio as the primary culprit for the spread of most of the major diseases afflicting Westerners today.
So, even though omega-6 oils are crucial for health, it’s advisable to cut back on them and increase your intake of omega 3’s, so that you are no longer suffering from an omega-3 deficiency.
Here are rich sources of omega-6’s that you should consider cutting back on:
safflower and sunflower oil canola oil corn oil soybean oil
Now, to increase your omega-3 consumption, start adding: flaxseed, walnut oil, and most importantly, fish oil supplements.
Why not fish?
Well, as already discussed, farm raised fish is a poor source of omega-3’s. In addition, fish from the Ocean harbors industrial pollutants, such as mercury, lead, and PCB’s.
Fish oil supplements — at least ones that undergo molecular distillation, a process by which the impurities are removed — contain all of the health enhancing omega 3 fats without the bad stuff.
Also, plant based sources of omega-3’s come in a form called ALA. This ALA needs to be converted by the body into the two usable forms, DHA and EPA. This conversion doesn’t always happen efficiently for various reasons.
This is another reason that if you want to avoid omega-3 deficiency, fish is the best source.
Now, not all fish oil supplements are equal. Some fish are higher in DHA and EPA than others. And some fish oil supplements aren’t molecularly distilled.
So, that’s where you have to be savvy and do your due diligence.
But it’s well worth it, because consuming the optimal ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 oils is one of the best things you can possibly do for your health.
Dan Ho is editor of http://www.omega-3-fish-oil-guide.com . Visit us now for more info on how to select a quality fish oil supplement. http://www.omega-3-fish-oil-guide.com is an informative browsing reference for all things related to fish oil and the benefits of omega 3 fatty acids.
