In this post I want to talk to you about the importance of essential fatty acids (EFAs). The reason why we call them essential is because it means that the body cannot make them. They need to come from your diet. The EFAs are based on linoleic acid (omega-6 group) and alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3 group). We need both groups of essential fatty acids to survive.
I am a strong believer in letting our food be our medicine. By eating the right things, giving our bodies all the essential nutrients, everything else that might be going on, the body will take care of.

As for the EFAs that I want to highlight today, studies have shown that increasing the intake of certain essential fatty acids can do the following:

• increase health
• help in treating certain diseases
• improve body composition
• improve mental and physical performance.

Not only is it important that you get these essential fatty acids but the ratio between them is also very important. Western diets are deficient in omega-3 fatty acids and have excessive amounts of omega-6 fatty acids. This is compared to the diet on which human beings evolved. Excessive amounts of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and a very high omega-6/omega-3 ratio, as is found in today’s Western diets, increases the risk of many diseases such as:

• cardiovascular disease
• cancer
• inflammatory and autoimmune diseases

But on the other hand, increased levels of omega-3 PUFA (a low omega-6/omega-3 ratio) renders suppressive effects.

You cannot manage what you cannot measure

As always, I am a big proponent of measuring things. You cannot manage what you cannot measure and there are tests available to get an insight into how your fatty acid profile looks. Specifically the balance between omega 6 vs omega 3. I did one in 2019 and was curious about how things looked a couple of years later and as you can see; I have reached optimal balance!
Now for the record, I do take a fish oil supplementation. But I have done this also back in 2019 when my first test was taken hence this is not a factor in how I have improved my ratio. I believe it is more related to me leaning more into food from the sea such as sardines, mackerel, tuna, salmon, nori algae and cod.

Summary

I guess what I am trying to say with this post is that you have much more power over your health then you might think. It all comes down to adapting a lifestyle that caters for your long-term health. Taking care of your health is a lifelong responsibility. But in return you will have a strong, energetic, high-quality life and I think that is what most of us want to achieve.