Omega-3 or Omega-6 Fats – Which One is Best for Weight Loss?

First of all, let me tell you that not all fats are bad, and conversely, not all fats are good either. There are two types of fats found in today’s foods: omega-3 and omega-6. Now you maybe are wondering what these fats have got to do with weight loss. Hmm, well that is what this article is all about.

The omega-3 fat is usually found in fishes, flax seeds, a few types of nuts (the ubiquitous groundnut is a good example), and hemp seeds. On the other hand, omega-6 fats are found in fast foods, processed fruit juices, sugary foods, soft drinks, etc.

Most people today have forgotten all about the healthier omega-3 fats and focus on eating only foods that are rich in omega-6 fats. I don’t mean to say that in order to lose weight, you should be eating only those foods that are rich in omega-3 fats. The key here is not to prefer one type of fat over another, as it creates an imbalance.

Here are some facts about omega-6 fats:

1. Omega-6 fats make your body unhealthy: Studies have pointed out that people who consume a high amount of omega-6 fats and low amount of omega-3 fats are likely to suffer from coronary diseases, high blood pressure, kidney and liver troubles, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. Premature death is also not a remote possibility.

2. Omega-6 fats make you stressed and hungry: A little known fact about junk foods is that they make stressed and depressed. A recent study on rats showed that when these rats were given junk and fatty foods to eat, they became stressed and tended to eat more and more junk foods.

However, when those same rats were served with foods rich in omega-3 fats, they were very little stressed didn’t eat more than what they were served because the omega-3 fats made them full just with the initial serving size.

Keep in mind that the foods served in both instances contained the same amount of calories. This study on rats debunked the myth that a calorie is a calorie, and proved that when it comes to weight gain/weight loss, the amount of calorie intake matters as much as the source of those calories.

3. Omega-6 fats make you overweight: Omega-6 fats are also responsible for obesity. This was the final conclusion drawn from the study on rats I mentioned above. As you know, at one time the rats were given junk foods to eat while at another time, they were served with foods rich in omega-3 fats; the foods served on both occasions contained the same amount of calories.

However, it was found out that when the rats ate the junk foods rich in omega-6 fats, they gained a lot of weight. It is only natural; as I told you earlier, omega-6 fats make the rats stressed out and increase their appetite.

In the end, I would suggest that you eat more of omega-3 fats and less of omega-6 fats. However, please don’t focus on eating only omega-3 or only omega-6 fats. Both need to be eaten in balance and as such, you should be eating a high amount of foods rich in omega-3 fats and a low amount of omega-6-rich junk foods.

While fishes are rich in omega-3 fats, you shouldn’t eat too much fish because apart from omega-3 fat oils, they also contain the poisonous mercury and PCB. If you wish to purchase a fish oil supplement, carefully check the package label to make sure that it has been completely detoxified of all these toxins and poisonous ingredients before being packed.

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