Good for your
heart, brain and more
How much Omega-3 do we need?
The exact required level of dietary Omega-3 is not known. Looking at traditional diets, it is thought that the amount needed depends on your lifestyle and the climate you live in. In short, the more active you are and the colder the climate you live in, the more Omega-3 you require.
A report from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) from 2012 suggested ‘between 250 and 500mg/day’ for adults. The report also explained that no known serious side effects have been observed from adults or children taking as much as 5g per day in the long term. What is most important is to balance our intake of Omega-3 and Omega-6.
The balance between Omega-3 and Omega-6
Once we have consumed Omega-3 and Omega-6, our bodies convert them into several derivatives, which work in different areas of our body and perform different roles. However, the two fats compete for the same conversion enzymes within the body. This means that the more Omega-6 we consume, the less Omega-3 we can convert.
The ideal ratio between the two is not known and may well vary in each individual according to environmental and lifestyle factors. Recommendations vary from 1:4 to 4:1 Omega-3 to Omega-6 – and anywhere in between. It is understood that early humans had a balance of roughly 1:1. Today, due to modern diets and farming techniques, the balance can be as much as 1:30 (Omega-3 to Omega-6). Whoever the person is, that ratio is far too high.
GOED recommendations
The Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s has compiled global recommendations for EPA and DHA consumption.
© Copyright ArcticSource1 2019