Omega 3 6 9 Fatty Acids: The Body’s Building Blocks

What Are Omega 3s, Omega 6s, and Omega 9s?

Most of us have heard it before: “Get your omega 3s!” Then, often followed by: “Eat more fatty fish!” or “Eat more flax and chia seeds!” Or, maybe you’ve even heard about omega 3 supplements, like fish oil, cod liver oil, krill oil, and flax oil. But, what about all of the omega 3 6 9 fatty acids? Why’s there so much hype around omega 3s? For some good reasons, actually.

In general, omega 3s are pretty much the super-est of superfoods. Because of this, you’ll find items like salmon and flax seeds—both excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids—at the top of most superfood lists. In addition, studies link omega 3 consumption with some pretty serious benefits. Most notably, health benefits like a lowered risk of heart disease, decreased inflammation, cancer prevention, relief from depression, and even a delayed onset of memory problems and Alzheimer’s as we age. Yet, amazing as they are, omega 3s aren’t the whole story.

Omega 3s are just one category of fatty acids that do important work in our bodies. But, there are also omega 6s, as well as omega 9s—which are both common in vegetable oils, nuts, and seeds. And, despite the fact that they’re found in similar dietary sources, omega 6s and omega 9s aren’t the same, either! So, what’s the difference?? Here’s what you need to know about omega 3 6 9 fatty acids—and in which foods you’ll find them.

What are Omega 3 6 9 Fatty Acids? Why are They “Omegas”?

Fatty acids are molecules, known as hydrocarbon chains (a chain of hydrogen and carbon atoms). Somewhere near the end (the “omega”) of the carbon chain, there’s a double bond between two carbon atoms. Some fatty acids have this double bond at the 3^rd carbon atom from the end of their carbon chain. These are “omega-3” fatty acids, which actually stands for “omega minus 3,” because the double bond is at the omega position, minus 3 atoms.

So, omega 6s have their double bond at the 6^th carbon atom from the end of their carbon chain, and omega 9s double bond at the 9^th carbon atom from the end of their chain. Pretty cool, right?!

These fatty acid molecules bond together to form the fats in our foods—usually in groups of three, known as triglycerides. Now, you may have heard about triglycerides in not-so-friendly terms, usually in relation to high levels of “blood triglycerides” (fat in the blood) and heart disease. While triglyceride levels can offer us some useful information about a person’s health, new research reveals that eating dietary fats is not what raises triglycerides, cholesterol, or heart disease risk. (Researchers believe inflammation plays a major role, and triglycerides are also made in our bodies from the carbs that we eat!)

Fat is NOT Bad—It’s Essential!

When we eat fats in our foods, our bodies break them back down into fatty acids. Those fatty acids are actually hugely important in our bodies—for energy, for energy storage, and really for all systems of our bodies to function. Because of this, the omega 3 6 9 fatty acids play a part in our skin health, respiratory system, circulatory system, organs, and especially in our brains. In addition, they help our bodies absorb vitamins and nutrients from food. And, the omega 3 6 9 fatty acids can help us regulate our blood pressure and inflammation. Fatty acids do a lot of work!

Most importantly, fatty acids are the building blocks of our cell membranes, and they are part of every cell in our bodies! Because of this, it’s worth considering our dietary intake of fatty acids. The kinds of fat that we eat directly affect us on a cellular level. Most of us know about saturated and unsaturated fats, but we’re focusing on unsaturated fats today. NOT because saturated fats are “bad” (that myth has actually been debunked). But, simply because the omega 3 6 9 fatty acids are all unsaturated fats.

Each of the omega 3 6 9 fatty acids offers our bodies benefits, but some are more important than others. First, there are the essential fats, which are omega 3s and omega 6s. Since the body can’t produce omega 3s or omega 6s on its own, we need to seek out dietary sources. On the other hand, omega 9s are non-essential fats because our bodies can produce them. Even though omega 9s aren’t ‘essential,’ we can still benefit from dietary sources like olive oil and avocados.

Although all of the omega 3 6 9 fatty acids are important, they work together in a delicate balance. All of these fats can be good! But, they can also lead to health problems if we eat them in the wrong ratios. (Learn more about this in my Balancing Omega 3s and Omega 6s blog!) All fats are NOT equal—not even all omega-3s. Fat can be a powerful nutrient, with major benefits (or consequences) to our health, depending on how informed we are.

As always, I’m excited to share the information I’ve learned about the omega 3 6 9 fatty acids with you all. Most importantly, I still encourage you to continue researching on your own so you can make informed choices about what’s best for you!

What are Omega 3s?

We’ve learned that omega 3s are just one of the omega 3 6 9 fatty acids. And, when people refer to omega-3s in a dietary sense like, “Get your omega 3s!” they’re talking about foods that contain omega 3s. Remember, the fats in foods get broken down by our bodies into fatty acids, which then go to work inside of us.

Omega 3s: The Basics

So, what are omega 3s?

• Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs)—which means they have many (“poly”) double bonds (“unsaturated”)
• Essential fats—the body can’t synthesize them, so we must consume them from dietary sources
• Anti Inflammatory—omega 3 fatty acids are some of the most powerful anti inflammatory substances on the planet!

Most Common Types of Omega 3s

Long-Chain Fatty Acids

These fatty acids are found only in animal sources—specifically marine animals. Because of this, we often refer to them as marine omega 3s:

• EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)—the body uses EPA to produce chemicals called eicosanoids, which help to reduce inflammation. Sufficient EPA in the brain may reduce symptoms of depression and lower the risk of suicide. EPA is also the precursor to DHA.
• DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)—makes up about 8% of our brains by weight, and over 90% of the omega 3s in the brain are DHA. Because of this, DHA is pretty darn important for brain development and healthy brain functioning. And, DHA is a component in every cell in your body!

Short-Chain Fatty Acids

This fatty acid comes mainly from plant sources. (Although, it exists in a few animal sources as well.):

• ALA (alpha-linolenic acid)—the body uses ALA for energy mainly. ALA is inactive in our bodies unless it’s converted into long-chain omega-3s like EPA and DHA. Though ALA can convert into EPA or DHA, the body is very inefficient at doing so. Because of this, ALA is not a sufficient substitute for EPA or DHA consumption.

Potential Benefits of Omega 3s

There are mixed opinions about the benefits of ALA—some research shows it can be good for heart health, some shows a correlation with prostate cancer, and some shows little to no beneficial effect.

But, studies focusing on diets that are rich in marine omega 3s (DHA and EPA) have revealed some profound benefits:

• Fight inflammation—which contributes to chronic diseases, like heart disease, diabetes, cancer; can improve symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis
• Improve heart health—increase good cholesterol, reduce triglycerides, lower blood pressure, decrease plaque in arteries
• Support brain health—crucial to infant brain development, can improve memory and attention, slows the decline in brain function as we age (specifically eating fatty fish), can improve memory in older people and help delay Alzheimer’s or prevent dementia
• Protect our eyes—guard against retina damage and macular degeneration
• Promote bone and muscle health—better bone mineral density, can ease symptoms of cystic fibrosis
• Foster mental health—reduce symptoms of depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder; reduce risk of psychotic disorders
• Help with weight loss—aid in weight management, reducing waist size, and decreasing liver fat.

Omega 3s Recommended Intake

There are no official standards or requirements for daily omega-3 intake yet, but there are some guidelines out there:

• The Food and Nutrition Board of the U.S. Institute of Medicine sets the adequate omega 3 intake at 1.6g for men and 1.1g for women per day.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends eating at least 2 servings (3.5oz each) of fatty fish per week, like salmon, herring, sardines, and anchovies.
• Because of the risk of mercury content in fish, it’s ideal to obtain our marine omega 3s from small, wild-caught fish that are free of toxins.
• While nuts and seeds are the main source of ALA, you can also find smaller amounts of ALA in some vegetables.

Omega 3 Foods

Here are a few examples of foods with higher omega-3 content. Keep in mind, these animal-based sources provide primarily EPA and DHA, while the plant-based sources only provide ALA. Because of this, plant- and animal-based omega 3s function differently in our bodies and provide different benefits.

(Check out my Balancing Omega 3s and Omega 6s blog to learn about the difference between plant and animal omega-3s!)

And, these are just some of the omega 3 foods in the world—there are many more!

*Beware of high mercury content in these fish!

What are Omega 6s?

People often confuse omega 6s with omega 3s or use the two terms interchangeably, but they’re not the same! There are a few key differences:

Omega 6s: The Basics

Like omega 3s, omega 6s are:

• Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs)
• Essential fats

BUT, omega 6s are generally:

• Both anti inflammatory and pro inflammatory—some omega 6s are anti inflammatory, but some are pro inflammatory. This inflammatory response helps our bodies repair after strenuous exercise. But, for prolonged periods, this inflammation can be harmful.

Most Common Types of Omega 6s

Short-Chain Omega 6s:

• Linoleic acid (LA)—one of the most common omega 6s we find in our food sources, especially vegetable oils like corn oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, and canola oil); LA takes on many other forms:
  • Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)—a slightly altered form of linoleic acid, found in grass-fed meat and dairy products, known as a supplement for bodybuilding that may help reduce body fat mass
  • Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA)—found in certain vegetable oils (like primrose and hemp seed oil), and is produced in the body from LA; much of GLA converts into DGLA, which is another source of anti-inflammatory eicosanoids (like EPA)

Long-Chain Omega 6s:

• Arachidonic acid (ARA or AA)—linoleic acid must convert into other longer-chain omega-6s like ARA to become active in the body; ARA is important for the immune system; prevalent in the brain, liver, and especially skeletal muscle; produces both pro inflammatory and anti inflammatory eicosanoids in the body

Potential Benefits of Omega 6s

Omega 6s are essential fatty acids for a reason. Our bodies can’t make them, but we do need them. This is because omega-6s play a role in many bodily functions, and some may help to treat symptoms of chronic disease:

• Promote skin and hair growth
• Help maintain bone health
• Aids in repairing and growing our skeletal muscle—helps us recover after exercise, specifically ARA
• Can help increase lean body mass—some studies link ARA with building strength and it’s often used as a bodybuilding supplement; some bodybuilding supplements also use CLA, but recent research suggests these are pro-inflammatory
• Regulate metabolism
• Potentially cancer preventative—some studies link CLA to cancer prevention and slowing the growth of tumors; GLA may aid in breast cancer treatment
• Some anti-inflammatory effects—both ARA and GLA have some anti-inflammatory properties, and GLA supplements may reduce symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

But, omega 6s in general tend to have a pro inflammatory ­effect, which can contribute to chronic inflammation in our bodies. Serious, chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer can result from chronic inflammation.

Now, this doesn’t mean omega 6s are bad by any means—our bodies do need them. But, the problem is that most of us (especially in industrial societies) consume far too many omega 6s in our diets.

Omega 6s Recommended Intake

As with omega 3s (and all of the omega 3 6 9 fatty acids), there aren’t yet official standards or requirements for daily omega 6 intake.

• The Food and Nutrition Board of the U.S. Institute of Medicine sets the adequate daily intake of omega-6s at 17g for men and 12g for women (for adults 19-50 years old).

But, we should still be wary of this guideline. Research on fatty acids is still new and conclusions are uncertain. However, one thing is becoming more clear: the ratio of our omega 6 to omega 3 intake is crucial to our health.

For optimum health, we should aim for an omega 6 : omega 3 ratio somewhere between 2:1 or 4:1. Generally, that means eating only around 2 to 4 times as many omega 6s as omega 3s. Despite this, most people in Western nations consume far more omega 6s than omega 3s, with ratios averaging around 15:1 and as high as 50:1! And, even the adequate omega 6 and omega 3 intakes from the Food and Nutrition Board result in an over 10:1 ratio. 

We’re eating fewer omega 3s and eating more omega 6s than ever. This is because we’re consuming more vegetable oils than ever, in processed foods, baked goods, restaurant meals, and even in our own cooking. And, this ratio imbalance plays a major role in chronic inflammation and chronic diseases. Because of this, it’s important to pay attention to our intake of omega 6s and omega 3s and modify as needed! For most of us, we need to limit our omega 6 intake and increase our omega 3 intake. 

(Again, I explain this in detail in my Balancing Omega 3s and Omega 6s blog!)

Omega 6 Foods

In general, there are some common sources of omega 6 foods—mainly vegetable oils, nuts, and seeds. Most importantly, some of these omega 6 sources, like vegetable oils, have a well-studied inflammatory effect on our bodies.

Remember, some omega 6s aren’t inflammatory, but omega 6s have an inflammatory effect in general when consumed in excess. We do need some omega 6s! But, many of us need to consider lowering our current omega 6 intake and increasing intake of marine omega 3s.

*These items are major sources of omega 6s in many of our diets. And, there are negative health consequences associated with many of these foods. By limiting our intake of these foods, we can better balance our omega 6 : omega 3 ratio.

Even if you don’t cook with vegetable oils at home, SO many processed foods, baked goods, salad dressings use vegetable oils. And, they’re the most common oils for cooking in restaurants. Specifically, the items listed above are common foods that some of us may eat every day. In general, these foods tend to be major culprits that throw our omega 6 : omega-3 ratio out of balance. So, start paying attention to your omega 6 and omega 3 intake—you may need to make some changes to your typical diet.

What are Omega 9s?

Overall, omega 9s are the least mentioned of the omega 3 6 9 fatty acids. In fact, many people don’t even know that omega 9s exist! (For awhile, I sure didn’t…)

In general, most of us know omega 9s by another name: monounsaturated fats. Although they play a different role from the fatty acids we’ve discussed so far, omega 9s have been associated with some major health benefits. (Of course, that’s IF our omega 6 : omega 3 ratio is in balance!)

Omega 9s: The Basics

Unlike omega 3s and omega 6s, omega 9s are:

• Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs)—which means they only have one (“mono”) double bond (“unsaturated)
• Non-essential fats—the body can produce them, so we don’t technically need to consume them in our diet

The body produces omega 9s, a.k.a. MUFAs, when we already have enough omega 3s and omega 6s. Because of this, omega 9s are “non-essential.” But, they still play an important role in our health. In fact, omega 9s are the most abundant fats in most cells in our bodies! Because of this, they end up performing some important functions, like carrying vitamins and minerals to our cells. And, there are no known negative side effects associated with consuming MUFAs.

Most Common Type of Omega 9s

There’s one omega 9 that is most known and most commonly found in our food:

• Oleic acid—occurs naturally in some vegetable and animal oils, especially olive oil and macadamia oil; oleic acid specifically is the second-most abundant fatty acid in the human body

Potential Benefits of Omega 9s

There’s plenty of hype surrounding the Mediterranean Diet and its many health benefits. This is because the Mediterranean diet is characteristically high in omega 9s (MUFAs) like olive oil! MUFAs have loads of health benefits, and researchers have done their fair share of work studying them:

• Heart healthy—on a low-fat diet, researchers found that increasing monounsaturated fats in the diet to replace saturated fats could lower triglycerides and balance cholesterol levels
• Anti-inflammatory—MUFAs can reduce inflammation in our bodies, which ward of chronic diseases and ease symptoms of other conditions like arthritis
• May improve insulin sensitivity—a study in Ireland found that diets rich in oleic acid helped lower fasting glucose and insulin levels, while also improving blood flow
• Can help with weight loss—especially for those at-risk for obesity, more MUFAs and fewer saturated fats can help lower body fat and decrease waist circumference
• Can improve immune function
• Mood elevator—in some studies, MUFAs helped reduce anger levels and reduced individuals’ risk of depression
• Strengthens bones—helps our body to absorb nutrients like calcium more efficiently, so our bones can actually use it
• Potentially cancer–fighting—various studies link MUFAs to a lower risk of some cancers

Omega 9s Recommended Intake

Again, there are no existing intake requirements or recommendations for omega 9s. This is, in part, because our bodies can produce them. (Although, if our bodies didn’t get enough omega 3s or omega 6s for some reason, then we’d need to get omega 9s from our diet. Because, without omega 3s or omega 6s, the body can’t produce omega 9s.) But, clearly, MUFAs offer our bodies some serious benefits and deserve a place in our healthy lifestyles!

Omega 9 Foods

Although omega 9s are ‘non-essential fats,’ they still offer our bodies healthful nutrients and benefits. Plus, many of them are delicious! You’ll notice that many of the foods on these omega 3, omega 6, and omega 9 lists overlap. Remember, we need different fats in our bodies to function. Likewise, foods also overlap in terms of their fatty acid composition. Because of this, many foods contain all 3 of the omega 3 6 9 fatty acids!

Balancing Omega 3 6 9 Fatty Acids in the Body

Optimizing your omega 6 : omega 3 ratio can be tricky business—it’s a process. Ultimately, it will take some researching and learning to understand which fatty acids make up the bulk of different foods. For example, canola oil does contain lots of omega 9s, but it still has a good amount of omega 6s as well, which can contribute to inflammation. If you’re trying to cut down on omega 6s, you might want to replace canola oil with olive oil or avocado oil, which are far lower in omega 6s.

And, remember, most of us generally need to increase our intake of omega 3s (especially marine omega 3s) if possible, in order to bring our bodies into a healthy balance. Ultimately, knowledge is power! Continue to seek out information and educate yourself. Read nutrition labels and ingredients lists. Listen to your body and pay attention to how you feel. YOU have to decide what’s right for you and your body!

Keep learning about how to optimize your health by Balancing Omega 3s and Omega 6s in your diet!

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