Omega 3 (usually needs to be supplemented)
Sources: DHA & EPA – fatty fish, krill and grass-fed ruminants, ALA – fatty fish, ruminants and plant oils
- Heart health
- Brain function
- Helps with inflammation
- Improves blood vessel function
- Improves cholesterol levels
- Lowers triglycerides
- EPA helps keep body tissues healthy
- DHA is a major component of cell membranes in the eyes and brain
- ALA also helps maintain healthy body tissues
Omega 5 (usually needs to be supplemented)
Sources: Pomegranate, Wild salmon, Grass-fed dairy, Tropical oils, Saw Palmeto
- Cell repair
- Digestion
- Skin quality
- Regulates glucose transport
- Reduces inflammation
Omega 6 (over-abundant in standard diet)
Sources: Vegetable oils
- Cell structure
- Tissue health
- Inflammatory response
Omega 7 (usually needs to be supplemented)
Sources: Fish, Buckthorn and Macadamia nuts
- Heart health
- Insulin sensitivity
- Moisture replenishment of mucosal membranes
- Anti-aging effect on skin, hair and nails
Omega 9 (overly-abundant in standard diet) (body fat is almost exclusively Omega 9)
Sources: Olive oil, Peanut oil, Sunflower Oil
- Heart health
- Sugar control
- Metabolism and mood
- Stroke
CONCLUSION: Your body likely has an oversupply of Omegas 6 and 9 but needs supplementation of other Omegas. In the standard Western diet the ratio of Omega 6 to 3 is between 10:1 and 30:1. The ideal ratio is closer to 1:1. An overabundance of Omega 6 due to excessive amounts of food cooked in, and utilizing vegetable oils, reduces the effectiveness of Omega 3’s health benefits as the compete for the same receptors. Although Omega 9 has health benefits, excess gets stored as body fat.