What’s The Difference: Omega-3 vs. Omega-6 Fat

What's The Difference: Omega-3 vs. Omega-6 FatBoth are essential fatty acids that your body needs to survive but can’t create on its own.

The big difference is structural: Omega-3s have a double carbon bond on the third carbon from the end of their structure, while omega-6s have it on the sixth from the end.

What does that mean for you? Not much. Together, they work to repair tissue, fight bad cholesterol, and reverse aging. While it appears that omega-3s are responsible for most of the health benefits, you still need both in your diet.

While it’s easy to get omega-6s from even a poor diet, omega-3s are a little harder to come by. This is why it is often recommended to supplement your omega-3s intake with fish oil.

How much fish oil do you need? Scientists are still trying to answer this question, but at the moment, the consensus seems to be that we need about 3,000 milligrams (3 grams) of fish oil daily. [source: Women's Health]

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