According to a new report published in the online journal Open Heart, states that in order to tackle obesity rates needs to include more omega-3 fatty acids and fewer omega-6 in diet.
The experts believe a balance of omega-3 and-6 in the diet is a more effective way of improving health, which focus on calories and energy expenditure and have “failed miserably over the past 30 years,” say Dr. Artemis Simopoulos of the Center for Genetics, Nutrition, and Health, Washington DC, and Dr. James DiNicolantonio of Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute, Kansas.
Recent years have seen an increased production of vegetable oils that are high in omega-6, and animal feeds changing from omega-3-rich grass to grain, resulting in high levels of omega-6 in the meat, eggs and dairy in the food supply for the first time in the history of human beings.
Although we do also need a sufficient amount of omega-6 in the diet, human beings evolved to eat equal amounts of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acid.
In their report the team now advise, “The time has come to return the omega 3 fatty acids in the food supply and decrease the omega 6 fatty acids by changing the cooking oils and eating less meat and more fish.”
We need to lower the levels of omega-6 vegetable oils such as corn oil, sunflower, safflower and soya bean oil and increase flaxseed oil, canola oil, and walnut oil that is high in omega-3. Also we need to add fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel and tuna which is high in omega-3. Nuts and seeds are also good sources. Omega-3 can also be found in dark vegetables such as spinach, kale, brussels and sprouts, which have many added health benefits.
Foods you should eat on an empty stomach!
