Dr. Oz: The Truth About Omegas & Why Do We Need Four Different Omegas?

Dr. Oz: The Truth About Omegas

Dr. Oz talked on his show about how to identify which omegas you need and which ones you can trust. A growing body of research shows that omegas can fight everything from joint pain, memory, heart disease, cancer, and make your skin and hair more shiny. But how can you tell them apart? Omegas 3, 5, 6, 7, and 9. Which ones do we need?

New studies are constantly saying one omega is better than another. There’s also new studies linking omegas to heart disease and fatty liver disease. What’s the truth?

Dr. Oz: Which Omegas Do We Need?

Dr. Michael Roizen stopped by to say we need at least four different kinds of omegas. He said that these are tough to get. The omegas we need to have are 3, 5, 7, and 9. They’re just the odd omegas. We need a little Omega-6, too, when we have an infection. But there’s already way too much Omega-6s in our diet. We get it from everything with corn in it. It also causes inflammation in the arteries and bones.

Omega-3 is critical. You can get it from flax seeds, walnuts, and avocados. Those sources are plentiful and Omega-3s decrease arthritis and inflammation in the arteries. Two large studies recently have shown walnuts decrease recurrent heart disease and heart disease by 30 percent. Salmon is also a great source because it has Omega-3 DHA, which is tough to get it because many fish don’t have it. It can help with memory loss, help you sleep better, and it’s a structural fat, which is good for the brain.

If you get Omega-3s as a supplement, make sure to get 600-900 mg with DHA on the label.

Dr. Oz: Omega-5, Omega-7, & Omega-9

Omega-5 is a new omega and it’s found in pomegranate oil. A new study shows it may be helpful in reducing breast cancer. Then there’s Omega-7, which is gaining a lot of popularity. It’s found in macadamia nuts and anchovies. It might decrease diabetes and improve cholesterol. Omega-9s are found in olive oil and can reduce inflammation and decrease heart disease risk and cholesterol.

If you want Omega-9s, make sure to get unadulterated olive oils. You can only find those in the ones from Turkey and the U.S.

Dr. Roizen said that you can’t reduce this to one. He said it’s important to get all of these. If he had to pick one to favor, it’d be Omega-3 DHAs, because he’s getting older and he wants to make sure his memory remains intact.