What is Omega 3?

What is omega 3? Wondering what is the omega 3 definition?

Omega 3 is the convenient way of referring to omega 3 fatty acids, which belong to a family of unsaturated fatty acids. What these fatty acids have in common to one another is a final carbon-carbon double bond in the n-3 position. What does that mean? The n-3 position refers to the third bond from the fatty acid's methyl end.

That, of course, is technical information which does not tell us the functions or importance of omega 3 fatty acids.

Health Benefits of Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Basically, omega 3 fatty acids are important nutrients which play crucial roles in the functions and health of various parts and processes in the human body. These include, most notably, brain health and heart health. In fact, a significant proportion of brain and heart tissue comprise of omega 3's.

What is omega 3's other benefits on health? These fatty acids also play important roles in skin health, joint health, hair health, as well as immune function. Omega 3 fatty acids have powerful anti-inflammatory properties, too. Further, it has been discovered that they are critical for normal growth and development in children. This is why they are referred to as essential fatty acids.

What is omega 3's link to serious diseases? The truth is, shortages of omega 3 fatty acids in one's diet have been linked to heart and cardiovascular disease, cancer, joint ailments, mental health conditions, Alzheimer's disease, among others.

Types of Omega 3 Fatty Acids

There are many types of omega 3 fatty acids, with the ones most well-known for human health being alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA); these are polyunsaturated fatty acids.

What is omega 3 fatty acids' physical structure? In gist, ALA has 3 double bonds in a carbon chain of 18 carbon atoms; EPA has 5 double bonds in a carbon chain of 20 carbon atoms; while DHA has 6 double bonds in a carbon chain of 22 carbon atoms.

How is this information important in telling us what is omega 3? Basically, what we need to know is that the body cannot synthesize or make its own omega 3 fatty acids; however, it is able to form DHA and EPA (which are longer) using ALA (which is shorter). What is critical, though, is that such conversion is limited, and also takes place competitively with omega 6 fatty acids, which are derived from linoleic acid.

Omega 3 and Omega 6

Both omega 3 and omega 6 are critical for good health, and must be obtained from food. The problem is that, because of our poor modern day diets, many people are today deficient in the very important omega 3 oils. Many studies show this fact.

To make things worse, we now consume loads of unhealthy fats - saturated fats, vegetable oils which are very high in omega 6 fatty acids, as well as trans fats. Our bodies then struggle to make use of the already small amounts of omega 3 fatty acids which it is provided.

Conclusion

Thus, to enjoy good and optimal health, it is imperative that we make sure we are consuming good amounts of high quality omega 3 fatty acids. Limiting omega 6 and unhealthy fat intake would also be an important step.

(Many people today consume omega 3 supplements, which typically come in liquid or pill / capsule form.)