Omega 3 fatty acids are essential for physical and mental well-being but the modern diet is often very deficient in omega 3 fatty acids with the balance between omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids being extremely high. In order to ensure good health it is therefore necessary to increase our intake of omega 3 fatty acids and this can be done by eating foods with omega 3 fatty acids in them.
One of the most well known foods with omega 3 fatty acids is fatty fish. Fatty fish such as sardines, salmon, trout and herring contain relatively high concentrations of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids and many studies have been done to show the benefits a diet high in these fish can have on various diseases and disorders. To improve health or to treat omega 3 fatty acid deficiency two to three meals a week containing these fish is recommended. You may also use fish oil supplements to help boost your intake of omega 3 fatty acids.
Seeds and nuts are also good sources of essential fatty acids but unfortunately do not contain the right balance in omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids. However to boost your intake of omega 3 fatty acids flax is recommended as flax-seed oil. Flax-seed oil is often considered an alternative to fish oil supplements for those who would prefer not to take fish oil however it does not contain omega 6 fatty acids.
Green vegetables contain a small amount of good fatty acids such as omega 3 but are not significantly helpful if used alone to boost intake of omega 3 fatty acids as you would need to eat too many vegetables to get a reasonable amount of fatty acids and so they need to be used in conjunction with other foods with omega 3 fatty acids.
Another food with omega 3 fatty acids is the New Zealand green lipped mussel. This often comes as a supplement though in powder or lipid extract form. The lipid extract is the one recommended as it is less likely to cause an allergic reaction.
In our modern day diet we are not achieving a correct balance of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids and it is therefore necessary to balance our diet with omega 3 fatty acids. Foods with omega 3 fatty acids are an excellent way to boost your intake of omega 3 fatty acids as are fish oil supplements or supplements made from the New Zealand green lipped mussel.
