Omega 3 and omega 6 are both essential fatty acids, but the ratio of each in our diet can play a vital role in overall health. Omega-3’s are found in fish, olive oil, garlic, and walnuts.Omega-3’s are important for reducing inflammation which in turn can potentially reduce the risk of osteoporosis, cancer, heart disease, asthma symptoms, and other health complications.
Omega-6 fatty acids are found in high concentration in today’s westernized diets. These fatty acids are found in vegetable oil, fast food items, dairy, eggs, chicken, beef, pork, and many baked items. At a normal level omega-6’s can help to increase good cholesterol (HDL) and decrease bad cholesterol (LDL). However, a diet with too high of omega-6 fatty acids can increase inflammation, bringing a higher risk of many chronic diseases.
The proper ratio for omega-3:omega-6 is 1:4. Interested in reading a study on Omega 3’s??
The Living Brain Project is a recent study by Brain Armor observing the effect of Omega-3 levels and health, particularly brain health. Mechanisms that explain the associations between higher Omega 3 levels and improved longevity are not clearly understood, but there are beneficial effects of Omega-3s on a variety of risk factors that may play a role. These factors include serum triglyceride levels, blood pressure, platelet aggregation, inflammatory markers, plaque buildup, arterial stiffness, age-related cognitive decline, age-related macular degeneration, and rates of cellular aging.
The original study group consisted of 67 participants. The current study sample consisted of 56 human volunteers (46 male, 10 female) aged 3 to 66 years old. Participants were recruited from the general community, resided throughout the United States of America, and exhibited different health histories, daily food intake, and physical activity practices. The outcome measures for this study were the Omega-3 Index, Omega-6: Omega-3 ratio, and AA:EPA ratio.
Check out Sports Rd Pro’s recent collaboration with Brain Armor by reading the full study.