Dec 12, 2017 #FlaxFAQ: Is the dietary omega-6/omega-3 ratio important?

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Q. Is the dietary omega-6/omega-3 ratio important?
A: The diet of humans living in the Paleolithic era was rich in omega-3 fatty acids, with a dietary ratio of omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3 fatty acids of about 1:1. Today’s North American diet is high in omega-6
fats and low in omega-3 fats, giving a ratio  of upwards of 16:1. Current omega-3 fat intakes may not be optimum for preventing heart disease and other chronic diseases. For this reason, consumers are advised to consume more omega-3 fatty acids and to limit omega-6 fatty acids from sources such as soybean and corn oils.