How Can Fat Be Essential?

Are you aware that some fats are essential to the body? Yes, there are several fats which our body cannot create which means that we have to get them from our food. Maybe you have heard of omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids. All these are both considered essential and should be provided by the foods we eat.

What do they really do? Well, the omega-3 fatty acid, for example is used for the creation of a group of hormones called prostaglandins and for the creation of healthful cell membranes. You know how aspirin and acetominophen are anti-inflammatories? So are the prostaglandins which our bodies produce from omega-3 fatty acids.

We want the omega 3’s and the omega 6’s to be in the right combination to be most powerful to us. Empirical evidence suggests the correct ratio is all about 4:1 between omega 6 and omega-3 fatty acids. What do you really suppose our average diet gives us? About a 20:1 and up to a 40:1 ratio; not even close to the ideal ratio.

Why is the balance out of whack? Well, our normal diets are rich in omega-6 fatty acids. We get them from meats, dairy products, and processed foods. We eat lots of those foods normally. We get omega-3 fatty acids from certain vegetable oils like soybean, canola, and flaxseed. And we get omega-3 fatty acids from cold-water fish like salmon, sardines, mackerel, and tuna.

Eat more fish! You have heard that said before, and now you understand why.

Especially the salmon. It’s particularly rich in the beneficial omega-3 fatty acids. Salmon , or the other omega 3 rich fish (but what tastes a lot better than good salmon?) At least one time weekly should be have.

As a way to get the omega 6 vs. omega 3 ratio in order, reduce your consumption of the saturated fat from meats and dairy products and increase your consumption of fish such as salmon.

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