Friday Favorite: Omega-3

Omega-3, Omega-6, fatty acids, fish oil… what does all this mean? Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids need to have a balanced ratio in our body. Ideally it is good to have a ratio of 4:1 or less of Omega-6 to Omega-3 acids, but recent studies show that 95% of foods consumed in the U.S. are processed, driving this ratio up to 20:1 or even 50:1 in some people.

Keeping a balanced ratio helps reduce inflammation, and inflammation can lead to a variety of conditions ranging from mild back pain to heart disease and cancer. Eat more green vegetables, grass fed meats, cage-free farm fresh eggs, wild game, fresh fish, flaxseeds, chia and hemp seeds. Avoid processed foods that have high amounts of Omega-6’s including grain, flour, corn, seeds, seed oils, grain fed meat and eggs, and farmed fish.

Besides healthy eating, supplementing your diet with high quality fish oil is very beneficial. It is important to take a high quality fish oil supplement to be sure it does not contain high levels of mercury.