By Maddie Hoeks, BS, CSUN Dietetic Intern

Increasing Omega-3 Fatty Acids In Our Diet

The American diet has definitely taken some detrimental turns. More specifically, there has been a significant increase in omega-6 fatty acid consumption and a decrease in the omega-3 fatty acid consumption. This is partially due to modern agriculture and changes in how our livestock is being fed¹. These changes have lowered the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in a variety of foods such as animal meats, eggs, and fish¹. Dietary choices also play a huge role in this change. Currently we see a ratio of around 20:1 of omega-6 to omega-3 fat intake in Western diets today¹. A ratio of 4:1 is more desirable and associated with a 70% decrease in total mortality². Continue reading →