Oh! Mega

Theres a lot of confusion around whatomega-3sare, and why you need them. Heres everything you ever wanted to know about this supplement

- Jill Schildhouse

Omega-3 is a class of essential fatty acids with numerous health benefits found in cold-water fish and some nuts and seeds. EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are the two most common omega-3 fatty acids. Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is found in flaxseed oil, chia seeds, canola oil, and walnuts, is another common omega-3 and is converted in the body to EPA and DHA, but in very small amounts. These essential omegas have long been used for their anti-inflammatory benefits.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!

Like omega-3, omega-6 fats are essential and provide numerous health benefits, with one major difference: Because omega-6 fats are commonly found in vegetable oils, nuts, and grain-fed meats, they aren’t a fat most Americans are deficient in.

“This is problematic because, despite being essential, these fats can become unhealthy when the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 gets higher than 2:1,” says Evan DeMarco, clinical researcher, expert and nutritionist. “Omega-6 fatty acids can be very pro-inflammatory when the ratio gets too high. A hundred years ago, the average ratio in our diets was 1:1. Now, it’s estimated at 20:1.”