{"id":100812,"date":"2019-04-05T17:49:01","date_gmt":"2019-04-05T21:49:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.oviahealth.com\/guide\/100812\/fertility-omegas-101\/"},"modified":"2024-10-16T14:02:11","modified_gmt":"2024-10-16T18:02:11","slug":"fertility-omegas-101","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.oviahealth.com\/guide\/100812\/fertility-omegas-101\/","title":{"rendered":"Are you getting your omegas?\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Omegas do a lot for the human body. They help our brains function, help our hair and skin grow, support our metabolism and immune system, keep our bones strong, and lubricate our joints. Our bodies can\u2019t actually produce omega-3s and omega-6s on our own; we need to get them from our diet. The good news is that both omegas can be found in lots of delicious foods.<\/p>\n

Does your diet lack omega 3 and omega 6?<\/h2>\n

Omega-3 and omega-6 are essential fatty acids. There are several different omega-3s, the three major ones being ALA, DHA, and EPA. Same goes for omega-6s, the two major ones being LA and AA. Different sources of omegas contain different types of each fatty acid. And these fatty acids assist with many important bodily functions, including with building cells and nervous system functioning. There’s also evidence that they might help prevent Alzheimer’s, and heart disease, among other serious conditions.<\/p>\n

How can you know if you’re getting enough omegas?<\/h3>\n

Unfortunately, it\u2019s not always immediately obvious when someone isn\u2019t getting enough omega fatty acids. Some of the more obvious signs – like brittle hair, dry skin, thinning fingernails – take a while to show up, and these symptoms often signal that someone hasn\u2019t gotten enough omegas for quite some time.<\/p>\n

The best way to know that you\u2019re getting enough omegas is to look at your diet and calculate how much you get from your typical food intake. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends about 250-500 mg combined of EPA and DHA, or omega-3s, daily, and about 12-17 grams of omega-6s per day.<\/p>\n

Ratio importance<\/h3>\n

The ratio of omegas that you get matters because of how they affect each other in your body. Both omega-3s and omega-6s compete for the same enzymes, so eating too much of one affects how well your body uses the other. Many experts agree that a 2:1 ratio of omega-6s:omega-3s is healthiest.<\/p>\n

Why you might not be getting your omegas<\/h3>\n

There are quite a few reasons why someone might not be getting the desired amount of omegas from their regular diet. It\u2019s especially important to keep track of these essential fats if any of the following conditions apply to you:<\/p>\n