Why Your Blood Needs Omega-6 Fatty Acids

Why Your Blood Needs Omega-6 Fatty Acids

Eating a well-balanced diet is important for your overall health, but did you know that omega-6 fatty acids are absolutely essential for the wellbeing of your blood?.

Getting the right balance in your blood is key to helping you stay healthy. Our body needs omega-6 fatty acids to function properly.

They play an important role in maintaining healthy blood cells, but why does our blood need them?.

In this article, we’ll look at the benefits of omega-6 fatty acids and how they help keep our blood healthy.

What are omega-6 fatty acids and what do they do?

Omega-6 fatty acid, usually referred to as linoleic acid, is a long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid.

Linoleic acid can be converted to gamma-linolenic acid and arachidonic acid.

Limited quantities of ARA can be obtained from the diet by eating meat and egg products.

GLA can be ingested from several plant-based oils. for example
borage oil and evening primrose oil.

A sufficient intake of omega-6 fatty acids is important as they play a critical role in:

• Brain function
• Cell structure
• Vision
• Immune and inflammatory responses
• The production of hormone-like molecules

Are omega-6 fatty acids good for your blood?

Yes. Omega-6 fatty acids are good for your health when combined with foods containing omega-3 fatty acids. Get to know the reasons why your blood needs omega-6 fatty acids.

Preterm infants

Overall the studies suggest that feeding infants formula enriched with DHA and long-chain omega-6 fatty acids, in the form of arachidonic acid, contributes to the visual and neurological development of preterm infants.

Inflammatory diseases

Some studies suggest that diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids and low in the inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids may benefit people with other inflammatory disorders, such as crohn’s disease and asthma.

However, study results have been mixed and more evidence is needed to draw any definitive conclusions.

Osteoporosis

In a study of women over 65 years older with osteoporosis, those given EPA and long-chain omega-6 fatty acid supplements experienced significantly less bone loss over a three-year period than those who were given a placebo. However, more studies are needed to confirm those results.

What foods provides omega-6 fatty acids?

Omega-6 fatty acids can be naturally in foods such as:

• Salad Dressings
• Soybean oil
• Corn oil
• Chicken
• Corn
• Safflower oils
• Nuts
• Wheat bread

How much omega-6 fatty acids does your blood need?

The recommended intakes for omega-6 fatty acids have been established by the health authorities.

For optimum health, adults should consume at least 10 g/day linoleic acid.

Omega-6 recommendations based on age and gender are listed below in grams.

• Men 50+ years: 14 g/day
• Women 50+ years: 11 g/day
• Men 19 – 50 years: 17 g/day
• Women 19 – 50 years: 12 g/day

It is important to maintain an appropriate balance of omega-3 and omega-6 in the diet, as these two work together to promote health.

Omega-3 fatty acids, for example, help reduce inflammation, and most omega-6 fatty acids tend to promote inflammation.

A healthy diet should consist of roughly 2–4 times more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty
acids.

What happens if you don’t get enough omega-6 fatty acids in your blood?

Omega-6 fatty acids deficiency is rare and has been found to occur in patients with chronic poor absorption of fat from food, some patients nourished intravenously, and in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Are omega-6 fatty acids harmful to your blood?

Yes. Omega-6 fatty acids should not be used in individuals with seizure disorder because there have been reports of these supplements. For example, evening primrose oil inducing seizures.

Borage seed oil, and possibly other sources of gamma-linolenic acid, should not be used during pregnancy because they may be harmful to the fetus and induce early labor.

Doses of GLA greater than 3,000 mg per day should be avoided because, at that point, production of arachidonic acid increases, which may cause inflammation in adults.

Side effects of evening primrose oil can include occasional headache, abdominal pain, nausea, and loose stools.

Takeaway

Omega-6 fatty acids play a key role in your overall health. They are important for maintaining healthy cholesterol levels, the brain, cell structure, immune and inflammatory responses, and producing hormones.

It is important to consume a balanced diet that contains omega-6 fatty acids, such as nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils. These foods should be taken on a recommended daily basis with omega-3 and must not exceed the upper limits.

High intakes of omega-6 may lead to severe painful joints, chronic long-term inflammations, cancer and blood clots.

Before taking omega-6 foods and supplements share your health concerns with a health care provider.