OMEGA 3, 6, 9 FATTY ACIDS (Flax seed oil)

The Benefits of OMEGA 3, 6, 9 FATTY ACIDS

(Flax seed oil)

Flaxseed oil comes from the seeds of the flax plant (Linum usitatissimum, L.). Flaxseed oil contains both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are needed for health.

Fatty acids are important for all systems of the body to function normally, including your skin, respiratory system, circulatory system, brain and organs. There are two fatty acids, termed essential fatty acids (EFA) that your body does not produce on its own. EFAs have to be ingested.

The two essential fatty acids that the human body cannot produce are the omega-3 fatty acid and omega-6 fatty acid, which are important for brain development, immune system function and blood pressure regulation.

When it comes lowering your risk for metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease, eating foods that cause the least amount of inflammation might be the best diet of all. High levels of inflammation lead to vascular damage and insulin resistance.

The general consensus is that eating the right proportion of omega-3 and omega-6 reduces inflammation in the body.

What is Omega-3 Fatty Acid?

Omega-3 fatty acids, a polyunsaturated fat, are found in three main forms:

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).

DHA and EPA are marine omega-3 and are mainly found in fish. ALA is a vegetable source of omega-3 and is present in walnuts, vegetable oils such as canola and soybean oils, and flaxseeds. Benefits seem to be seen with all types of omega-3's

Conditions which Omega-3 Fatty Acid will help improve & prevent:

·      Asthma  ·      Diabetes  ·      Arthritis  ·      Osteoporosis ·      Some Cancer ·      Skin Disorders		·         High Cholesterol  ·         High Blood Pressure  ·         Attention Disorders  ·         Depressive Disorders  ·         Macular Degeneration ·         Digestive Difficulties

What is Omega-6 Fatty Acid?

Omega-6 fatty acids, which are polyunsaturated, are found in nuts, seeds and vegetable oils such as soybean, safflower, sunflower or corn oils, which are widely used by the food industry. 
Omega-6 fatty acid (Linoleic Acid) combined with omega-3 fatty acid produces many of the health benefits described above, but the trickiest part about playing the fatty acid game is that it is best to eat them in the right amounts.

You should be eating about twice as much omega-6 as omega-3, so that your omega-6 to omega-3 ratio is 2:1, but in today’s world of fast food, frozen entrees, and high calorie snacks, it is not uncommon for most people to actually be getting about 15 times more omega-6 than omega-3.

Washington DC’s center for Genetics, Nutrition and Health suggest that eating omega-6 and omega-3 in the wrong proportions may actually negate the health benefits.

The best sources of omega-6 are seeds, nuts and grains and green leafy vegetables, like lettuce, broccoli, purslane and kale, and in certain raw vegetable oils. Care should be taken to use raw cold pressed vegetable oils because cooking destroys the benefits of the fatty acids.

Omega-6 fatty acids are also found naturally in: Olive Oil, Pumpkin Seeds, Chia Seed Oil, Sunflower Oil, Sesame Oil, Grape seeds, Raw Nuts.

What is Omega-9 Fatty Acid?

Omega-9 fats, or oleic acid, are monounsaturated fats abundant in olive oil, safflower oil, canola oil, avocado and nuts such as almonds and peanuts. Unlike omega-3 and omega-6, omega-9 is not considered an essential fatty acid; it can be produced by the body, although dietary intake is beneficial and when there is a lack of Omega 3 and 6, Omega 9 should be taken.

Omega-9 fatty acids help lower your bad cholesterol or LDL in addition to reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Most monounsaturated sources also contain high levels of vitamin E, a powerful health-protective antioxidant.

Omega-9 fatty acids are also found naturally in:  Avocados, Various nuts & seeds, Olives and olive oil.

Something more about DHA and EPA.

Within the body omega-3 fatty acids are converted to DHA and EPA (docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, respectively). DHA and EPA are highly unsaturated fats that play very important roles in the vision development and brain function of infants.

One study found significantly lower amounts of EPA in the cells of patients who had attempted suicide, suggesting that omega-3 fatty acids may actually play a role in suicide prevention. A lack of DHA has been associated with Alzheimer disease, attention disorders, phenylketonuria, cystic fibrosis and other diseases.