Omega

Are you stressed? Do you have dry skin? Do you rarely eat oily fish (sardines, tuna, salmon, mackerel...)? Rapeseed oil and walnut oil sound familiar? You're certainly lacking in essential fatty acids.

Omega-3s are part of the lipid family, better known as fats. This family is made up of 3 groups:

Saturated fatty acids

Monounsaturated fatty acids

Polyunsaturated fatty acids

Both omega-3 and omega-6 belong to the category of polyunsaturated fatty acids. They are said to be essential for the body's equilibrium.

Alpha-linolenic acid is the leader of the omega-3 family. It is essential because the body cannot manufacture it, and must therefore obtain it from the diet or from supplements. Long-chain derivatives of alpha-linolenic acid are EPA, involved in the formation of cell membranes in the heart, and DHA, in the brain.

EPA supplementation is recommended to prevent metabolic disorders, depression and cardiovascular health. They are mainly found in oily fish, fish oils, rapeseed oil, walnut oil and camelina oil....

DHA supplementation is recommended for neurodegenerative disorders, visual impairment, memory loss or post-partum depression. They are found in cod liver oil.

Omega 6 is recommended for premenstrual syndrome (evening primrose) or skin problems (borage oil). 

A ratio of 1/5 (1 dose of omega 3 for 5 doses of omega 6) is recommended. It would seem that too much omega 6 predisposes to overweight. In fact, not all fats play the same role in the development of adipose tissue.

Omega 6 promotes fat growth by multiplying the number of fat cells and facilitating fat storage. 

Omega-3s reduce fat synthesis and play an antagonistic role to omega-6s.

Finally, omega-3s are precursors of anti-inflammatory agents belonging to the prostaglandin family.