Omega 3s are membrane components. They surround every one of your cells to give them energy. Omega 3 fatty acids do many positive things for our health, including increasing the functionality of our eyes, brain, lungs, immune system, and heart.
As your body does not create omega 3s, you must get them from your diet. This is why they are called “essential” fatty acids.
The most crucial omega 3s are EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), and ALA (alpha-linolenic acid). These can be naturally found in foods, such as:
Fish: salmon, tuna, sardines
Oils: soybean oil, cod liver oil, flaxseed oil
Nuts and seeds: chia seeds, walnuts, flaxseeds
Most people don’t consume enough omega 3 fatty acids. Rather, they consume an abundance of omega 6s.
In general, omega 6 fatty acids are inflammatory while omega 3s have the opposite effect. It should come as no surprise, then, that omega 6s are more prevalent in a Standard American Diet and are consumed in staggering ratios of up to 40:1!
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