Excessive consumption of omega-6 and an imbalance between these two essential fatty acids are the cause of inflammatory diseases in the human body.
According to Radio Salamat’s public relations report, Dr. Mohammad Reza Vafa, a health and nutrition expert on Radio Salamat’s “Fraso” program, stated that the most common fatty acid deficiency in the world is omega-3 deficiency, adding: “Both omega-3 and omega-6 are essential fatty acids that the human body cannot produce and must be supplied through nutrition.”
Vafa continued: “But unfortunately, currently, the consumption of omega-6 in people’s diets is much higher than needed, and this excessive consumption can itself be the initiator of inflammatory diseases.”
Emphasizing that the imbalance between omega-3 and omega-6 leads the body to inflammation, Wafa said: This is not at all strange, because the dietary patterns of people around the world have changed in recent decades and have shifted more towards consuming omega-6. While omega-3, which has an anti-inflammatory role, has been severely reduced in our diet.
Referring to the food sources of omega-3, he said: We do not know the sources of omega-3 and do not eat them. Fatty fish, flaxseed, pepper oil, and some supplements are among the important sources of omega-3 that are less common in the daily diet. This deficiency is very serious and a solution must be found for it.
Stating that taking at least one omega-3 supplement per day is recommended for everyone, Wafa said: But if a person suffers from autoimmune diseases, allergies, or joint problems, taking more than one will be beneficial.
He continued: "Of course, consuming more than two or three may cause an unpleasant fishy smell in the stomach, which is annoying for some people."
The nutritionist concluded: "Some people mistakenly take omega-6 supplements, while our bodies have no deficiency in omega-6. The main problem is the lack of omega-3. Therefore, one should consciously go towards consuming omega-3 sources and avoid excessive consumption of omega-6."
