What do humans, whales, and dolphins have in common? Besides the obvious that they’re all mammals, warm blooded, and give birth to “live young”, here’s one similarity you might not have heard of.
Dolphins, whales, and humans are the only animals on the planet that require a one-to-one ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 essential fatty acids.
The term “essential” is used to imply that our body can’t make them (easily), and as such we need to get them from our diet. How essential are they? Studies on mice have shown deficiencies in these essential fats cause extreme health issues, while restoring those fats to their diets immediately reversed their health.
The Omega-6 fatty acids are used to increase inflammation, constrict blood vessels, and stimulate blood clotting – functions that are useful as part of the immune system. Omega 3s do the opposite – thin the blood, decrease blood pressure, and in general help to increase immunity. Hence the need for the 1:1 balance of Omega 6s to Omega 3s.
So, how are we as humans doing to achieve that 1:1 ratio?
Unfortunately, not so good – at least here in the West. Rather than an ideal 1:1 ratio of Omega 6s to Omega 3s, a typical American diet is more like a 20:1 ratio. And many experts believe this imbalance is significantly correlated with the increases in asthma, heart disease, several cancers, and neurological disorders (including depression, aggression, ADHD, schizophrenia, Parkinson’s, MS, and Alzheimer’s).1 A UK prison study demonstrated a remarkable 37% drop in violent offences once Omega 3s were added to the prisoner’s diets.2 Countless studies have since demonstrated a correlation between decreased Omega 3 intake and increased depression rates.
But that major imbalance of Omega 6 to Omega 3 wasn’t always the case.
Our food sources have always been and remain rich in Omega 6s (seeds, nuts, vegetable oils, etc.). And, our diets once were replete with Omega-3s as a result of the fish and meat we ate. But with over farming and the dramatic increase in grain-fed animals and processed foods that is no longer the case.
The unfortunate truth is that many of us are now severely lacking in Omega 3s, an essential fatty acid that is crucial for optimal health.
In Part 3 of this series, I’ll discuss the various forms of Omega 3 and how to get what your body really needs. To quote Dr. Abel, author of The DHA Story, “All men may be created equal, but not all [Omega 3] fatty acids are.”
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