Why is it important to have ω-fatty acids in our diet?

Expert Solution

ω-fatty acids have a wide range of medical benifits such as good eye health, brain health during pregnancy and early Life, reduce insulin resistance and inflammation, and improve heart disease (cardiovascular) risk factors in people with metabolic syndrome, may help prevent breast cancer, reduce fat in the liver and many health benefits.

Omega fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and human body cannot synthesize itself namely linoleic acid (LA) - an omega-6 fatty acid, and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) - an omega-3 fatty acid. These have to be consumed from the diet and are therefore termed “essential fatty acids”. Both of these fatty acids are needed for growth and repair, but can also be used to make other fatty acids. In the body, LA is metabolized to arachidonic acid (AA), and LNA is metabolized to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Well balanced ω-6/ω-3 ratio in the diet is necessary for healthy growth and development and this will lead to decrease in cardiovascular disease and other chronic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus type-I and type-II, hypertension (anxiety), arthritis (osteoporosis, osteo arthritis) and other autoimmune diseases, and improve mental health. ALA and LA are found in plant and seed oils. EPA and DHA are found in herring fish. AA is available from animal sources, such as meat and egg yolk. ω-3 fatty acids are useful to protect against fatal heart disease and it has already proven that it have anti-inflammatory effects.

In view of above it is necessary to have them in our regular diet.

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queen_honey_blossom answered 2 years ago

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