You’ve heard
us tout the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids for years, from their ability to
boost your brainpower to their knack for protecting your ticker. But what
exactly are these fats, and what’s their big lifesaving secret? Consider this
your quick guide to omega-3s:
What
Are They?
Here’s a quick science primer: Omega-3 fatty acids and their cousins,
omega-6s and omega-9s, are polyunsaturated fats. Two polyunsaturated
fats—linoleic, an omega-6, and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3—are
considered essential. “Our bodies can’t make polyunsaturated fatty acids,” says
Stephen Smith, Ph.D, a professor of meat science at Texas A&M University.
“We must have those in the diet for growth and normal health.”
Two important omega-3s found in fish—eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and
docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)—are considered conditionally essential. The hitch:
Your body can make them, but sometimes you don’t make enough.
Related: Omega Fatty Acids - 7 Myths Debunked
