Omega 6 fatty acids are one of the fatty acids that have an important place in our lives. Fats can be divided into saturated fats and unsaturated fats. You can find our article on saturated fats here. In this article, we will talk about Omega 6, one of the unsaturated fatty acids. What foods contain omega 6? What does this fatty acid do?’ Let’s look at the details together.
Omega 6 is among the essential fatty acids. That is, it cannot be synthesized by our body. It must be taken externally with food. It has more than one double bond in its structure. The reason why the fatty acid got this name is that the first double bond in its structure is at carbon number 6, which is closest to the methyl group.
This fatty acid is effective in lowering LDL cholesterol, known as bad cholesterol. We can also say that it provides positive effects for problems on the skin.
What foods are rich in Omega 6 fatty acids?
Its main source is linoleic acid. Foods containing this acid are rich in Omega 6 fatty acids. It is found in nuts such as almonds, cashews and walnuts. In addition, oil varieties such as sunflower oil, corn oil, sesame oil are also rich in omega 6 fatty acids.
In our diet, we should include foods containing this fatty acid in a balanced and sufficient way. Because recent studies show that we consume more than necessary. In addition, the World Health Organization says that when omega 3 and 6 fatty acids are consumed in a balanced way, we can benefit from their effects on our health.