For most people, their omega 6 to omega 3 ratios are probably way out of line.
The problem is this area causes confusion as well because we do actually need both of these fats to maintain a healthy body.
So what is the correct ratio of Omega 6 to omega3 that we need to stay healthy? Unfortunately, this is a bit of a gray area, even the research scientists are not sure what the exact ratio of omega six to omega 3 should be, they give figures varying from 1:1 to 10:1 omega 6 to omega3; while anywhere within that range is probably acceptable the horrible truth is that most people are somewhere in the range of 14:1 to 20:1 and this is down to the change in diet that we have had in the last hundred years or so.
The reason for this is because of the vast increase in the amount of oil such as sunflower, safflower and corn oil that is used in food preparation and cooking.
In addition to that, meat that was raised for consumption used to be fed on grass which gave it some source of omega-3 however now it is fed on grain's which means it is higher in Omega six.
And in the same period our consumption of fish that are high in omega-3's has actually decreased.
As I mentioned earlier we do need Omega six for our health, as it helps create inflammation in the body which is the cause of fighting off infection, however too much of it thickens the blood and can be behind conditions such as aneurysms, strokes and unexpected fatal heart attacks.
All of which interestingly enough have risen in the same time that we have increased the amount that we consume.
When it comes to getting Omega threes, you would think it would be straightforward now as lots of foods are advertised as having Omega threes in them; however more often than not they contain the ALA fats which come from things like flaxseeds and walnuts, which while still good for you are not as good as the fats which are DHA and EPA that you find in oily fish.
However to get enough of these fats from the fish to be effective against the amount of Omega six that we are eating would mean consuming fish on a daily basis; this then throws up another problem.
Because of the way we have polluted our waters, fish that contain these oils also contain pollutants such as mercury, and if you were to consume this on a daily basis than it would do your long-term health damage.
In addition to that, if you eat farmed salmon to try and avoid this pollution, then those fish are fed on pellets so it won't be eating the natural algae that it needs to create those essential fats in its body.
So, how can we get our omega 6 to omega 3 balance right? The answer lies in taking a fish oil supplement.
This is the only way that you can safely take enough fish oil containing DHA EPA fats to help balance out your Omega six levels.
However, you do have to make sure that the supplement you take has been molecularly distilled because if it has not, then it may still contain pollutants.
But taking one of these supplements daily, will not only help to balance your Omega six but additionally there are whole host of other health benefits related to it.