Why is an extra daily intake of omega-3 necessary?
The body cannot generate the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA by itself. It needs to derive the materials necessary to produce EPA and DHA from a diet that is rich in omega-3. Unfortunately, a typical Western diet lacks omega-3 fatty acids. That has not always been the case. Historically, our current diet contains approximately 10-20 times more omega-6 than omega-3. Commonly used vegetable oils and processed foods consist almost exclusively of omega-6 fatty acids and hardly any omega-3 fatty acids. Therefore, taking EPA and DHA supplements is a conscious choice you can make to achieve a balance between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids.
