Why it's scary

Omega 3 EFAs are unstable & are easily destroyed (turn rancid) by heat, light & contact with oxygen (i.e. nearly everything!). As such they are easily destroyed by normal cooking/processing techniques & will deteriorate more quickly in food products than will OM6 fats.

This raises big questions about the bio-availability for uptake of OM3 within 'complete' dry pet feeds and human foods as they are frequently cooked at high temperatures. To overcome this 'manufacturing hurdle', producers (dog, cat, equine & human) frequently use food groups high in OM6 EFAs - cereals & oils like safflower, sunflower, soya & olive oil that have little or no OM3. Hence it's hardly surprising that essential fatty acid intake has seen a frightening shift from a natural dietary intake of from 1:1 to 4:1 OM6 to OM3, to 25:1 OM6 to OM3 ratios.  We wonder, is it surprising that 'modern bodies' seem to struggle so much more than in the 'good old days'?

Click here to see some tables showing what's rich in OM3 & OM6 & what to use to help boost your natural OM3 intake.

Note:  When pets are fed a 'raw' diet, their OM3 to OM6 ratios are far less likely to be of such concern.

Important Note:  Any blacked out words with [bracketed] text has been amended to meet VMD criteria.  All text is Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) compliant.  Click here for what that means to you.