What are the best foods to restore the optimal ratio of 2:1 Omega 6 to Omega 3?
Some nutritionists point to the fact that oily fish contains the long chain omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA in a pre-formed state, and that these have heart protective properties. However, promoting fish for this reason ignores the fact that the body can convert plant sources of omega 3 into EPA and DHA. This has been shown by a number of studies which have demonstrated that plant omega 3-rich oils significantly elevate tissue levels of EPA/DHA. Of course if this were not the case, then millions of non-fish-eating vegetarians across the world would have increased cardiovascular risk, but all the evidence points to reduced rates of coronary heart disease for vegetarians. There are certain fatty fish that contain high levels of omega 3 fat, including salmon, mackerel, tuna, herring, yellow tail, and trout. You can also find omega-3 fatty acids in flax seed, and to a lesser extent in canola and walnut oils. But – and this is key – all omega-3 fatty acids are not the same. In particular,
Some nutritionists point to the fact that oily fish contains the long chain omega 3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA in a pre-formed state, and that these have heart protective properties. However, promoting fish for this reason ignores the fact that the body can convert plant sources of omega 3 into EPA and DHA. This has been shown by a number of studies which have demonstrated that plant omega 3-rich oils significantly elevate tissue levels of EPA/DHA. There are certain fatty fish that contain high levels of omega 3 fat, including salmon, mackerel, tuna, herring, yellow tail, and trout. You can also find omega 3 fatty acids in flax seed, and to a lesser extent in canola and walnut oils.
