Most people get too much omega-6 fatty acids from cooking with vegetable oils or from processed foods made with vegetable oils. However, unsurprisingly, most people do not have a sufficient intake of omega-3 fats.
Dietary sources of omega-3 fatty acids include fish oil and certain vegetable/nut oils. Fish oil contains docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), while some nuts (English walnuts) and vegetable oils (canola, soybean, flax/linseed, olive) contain alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). .
Both of these fats are healthy, but too much omega-6 and not enough omega-3 can throw your body out of balance and cause inflammatory molecules to start forming. If that were to happen, it could increase your risk of diseases of aging and should also prevent you from losing weight.
Add a good omega-3 and omega-6 supplement to your regular diet, this will maintain the preferred balance of omega-3 and omega-6, which will help improve your metabolism, lower your blood pressure, help skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis, it can help reduce menstrual cramps, reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and some types of cancer.
Studies by the Environmental Defense group have determined that two-thirds of companies surveyed follow very strict procedures involving environmental contaminants in their fish oil supplements. Studies have also shown that most fish oil supplements do not contain any type of contaminant in fish, including mercury.
Fish oil supplements are sold in health food stores, vitamin stores, supermarkets, department stores, and the list goes on and on! You can easily pick up your Omega-3 and Omega-6 supplements while you shop.
Finally, new studies have shown that 1,000 milligrams of the following: alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) combined, is what you should be looking for. But always remember, talk to your doctor before taking any supplement, especially if you are taking any other medication.