Fat is an essential element to all healthy diets. We are conditioned to think that fat is bad. But not all fats are bad! We need fat. The body can't make fat itself and needs fat to absorb fat-soluble vitamins A and D.

The amount of fat in the American diet has been steadily increasing since the 1970s. And that's not an increase in healthy fats. It's the saturated fat type found mainly in fried and processed foods, meat, and dairy.

Healthy fats are a vital element of a healthy diet and can help reduce your LDL Cholesterol levels. It can, however, be a little confusing to understand the different types of healthy fats.

What can you eat to enrich your diet in healthy fats? Which fatty acids are the most important? This article will break down the answers to these questions.

What is Monounsaturated Fat?

The chemical structure of different fats is what distinguishes them from one another.

Monounsaturated fats have one double bond. Many foods that have high levels of monounsaturated fats also have many other types of fat present too. Food that is high in monounsaturated fat includes olive oil, avocado, and canola oil.

As a general rule, if food is liquid at room temperature, it is monounsaturated fat. If it is solid at room temperature, it is saturated fat (think butter and coconut oil).

Diets that include healthy levels of monounsaturated fats can be effective for weight loss. Diets low in saturated fat and abundant in monounsaturated fat can also help to reduce inflammation.

Inflammation can be detrimental to our long-term health as it can cause chronic illnesses such as heart disease and cancer.

What is Polyunsaturated Fat?

The chemical structure for polyunsaturated fats is different from monounsaturated fats. The chemical structure affects how the fat is broken down and used in the body.

What does the structure of polyunsaturated fats look like? Two to six double bonds. This makes it hard for extra hydrogen atoms to attach to it, making it unsaturated with hydrogen.

Monounsaturated fats have one double bond (mono), and polyunsaturated fats have more than one bond (poly). Simple!

Polyunsaturated fats are thought to be even more healthy than monounsaturated. They may help reduce the risk of heart disease and assist weight loss when used to replace saturated fats.

You find polyunsaturated fats in vegetable oils and seed oils such as flax oil and soybean oil.

What Are Omegas?

Now we have a bit of clarity on the different types of fat. Let's dig into what omegas are, shall we?

Omegas are essential fatty acids. They are mainly polyunsaturated fats. They are necessary for the body as they are a crucial part of our cell membranes and our development.

We need omega fatty acids for the growth and development of organs like our brain, for example.

The confusing part? There are different types of omegas that are important for varying things. The ratio of different omegas you consume is another crucial factor to pay attention to.

The different omegas require the same enzyme to be digested; this means they can compete when it comes to absorption.

It is essential to get the right balance of omegas for optimal health. You usually require more Omega-3 than Omega-6 or Omega-9.

What is Omega-3?

To make things a little more complex, there are three types of Omega-3. They are:

• Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
• Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
• Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)

EPA and DHA are the marine omegas found in fish.

ALA is found in nuts and vegetable oils. ALA is vital as it can only be obtained by the diet and not made in the body.

EPA and DHA can be made in the body by ALA, but the body is not efficient in making the amount we need. It is better to get them from your diet or a supplement. Check Supplement Relief for an effective supplement.

Why is Omega-3 Important?

Many other types of fat can be produced by the body using additional fat. Our bodies can't make Omega-3, so it is so important to get it from our diets.

The Omega-3 fatty acid is essential for just about everything our body does! It starts with the cell membrane and affects our body's ability to produce hormones. It gives your brain energy, helps to clot blood, and is essential for a healthy cardiovascular system.

Which Foods Contain Omega-3?

The primary source of Omega-3 for humans is seafood. Omega-3 is abundant in oily fish such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel.

Did you know that Omega-3 originally comes from sea algae that the fish eat in the ocean? The fish can't synthesize the Omega-3, and that's why it becomes one of the nutrients we obtain from eating them.

Other foods rich in Omega-3:

• chia seeds
• flax seeds
• eggs
• walnuts
• leafy green vegetables

What Does a Deficiency Cause?

If you have an Omega-3 deficiency, it will likely cause problems with your skin, hair, and nails. A lack can cause brittle hair that breaks easily and the appearance of a flaky scalp or dandruff.

What is Omega-6?

Most Americans have more Omega-6 in their diet than Omega-3. This is because Omega-6 is found in products we regularly consume.

There are two Omega-6 fatty acids which are arachidonic and linoleic acid. Like Omega-3, Omega-6 is polyunsaturated fat and cannot be produced by the body.

Why is Omega-6 Important?

Omega-6 helps lower our LDL cholesterol. LDL is the type of cholesterol we don't want in the body as it lines our arteries with a fatty layer. This can lead to heart disease and strokes.

However, we need to be careful not to consume too much Omega-6 as it can raise our blood pressure. Always try to consume more Omega-3 than Omega-6. 

Which Foods Contain Omega-6?

There are many foods we eat daily that contain Omega-6. There are two types of food with Omega-6, those that include linoleic acid: 

• vegetable oils such as sunflower oils
• nuts 
• seeds such as pumpkin seeds

and those that contain arachidonic acid, which includes food such as:

• eggs
• meat
• poultry 
• fish

What Does a Deficiency Cause?

We need Omega-6 for the correct function of our cells. If we don't have enough Omega-6 in our body, it can cause problems. Omega 6 is also thought to be important for our skin health.

What is Omega-9?

A monounsaturated fat, Omega-9, is present mainly in animal and vegetable fats. 

Omega-9 can be produced by the body, making it a non-essential fatty acid. This doesn't mean you don't have to consume it. It just means it's slightly less critical than dietary Omega-3 and 6.

Why is Omega-9 Important?

Omega-9 is also known to promote the 'good' HDL cholesterol in the body and reduce LDL cholesterol. Sufficient Omega-9 can also increase our energy levels and boost our mood.  

Which Foods Contain Omega-9?

As it is a nonessential fatty acid, you don't need to be so strict about incorporating Omega-9 into your diet. However, some of the foods containing Omega-9 are incredibly healthy. These foods include but aren't limited to:

• almonds
• olive oil
• peanut oil
• avocado oil

What Does a Deficiency Cause?

The body can produce Omega-9 by itself. This makes the chances of a deficiency very rare. If you aren't sure, then speak to your doctor. 

What to Remember About Omegas

What should you remember about Omegas? That Omega-3 is the most important and the one you should always aim to get more of in your diet. Omega-3 is the most commonly supplemented as many people don't eat fish.

If you are eating a healthy, balanced diet, then you are probably already getting enough Omega-6. Remember that too much Omega-6 can hinder your absorption of Omega-3.

Omega-9 is the one you don't need to worry too much about, as your body already produces it. Again, if you eat a varied and balanced diet, you will probably be eating foods rich in Omega-9 anyway.

Add Omegas to Your Diet Today

The different types of fats and fatty acids can all be a bit confusing. Foods don't usually contain one kind of fat. They are made up of a combination of saturated, polyunsaturated, and monounsaturated fats.

This article aimed to dispel some of that confusion.

You can also use the suggestions above to start adding more of the foods high in Omegas into your diet. Remember, the Omega you likely lack most is Omega-3.

Do you want to make sure you are consuming an optimal balance of Omegas with a supplement? Consider adding an Omega-3,6,9 supplement to your diet.