Q. Why are there so many omega-6 fats in the western diet?

A. Omega-6 fats have inundated our food supply for  three key reasons:

     1. Changes in farming practices caused an increase of omega-6 fat in the flfesh of the animals we eat, such as beef.  For example, the majority of cows are fed corn grain diets, rather than grazing on grass.  Consequently, the cows are higher in omega-6 fats, including the by-products, includiing milk and meat.

     2. Thanks to the industrial revolution we eat fats that did not exist 100 years ago, such as cottonseed oil,   which is high in omega-6 fats and found in many foods. 

     3. Lastly, health groups began urging the public to protect their hearts by eating more vegetables oils or “polyunsaturated fats”, in place of animal fats, which increased the demands for these foods.  

The dominant fat in polyunsaturated fats are omega-6 fats.  So when health-conscious consumers make an effort to eat more polyunsaturated fats, they are automatically increasing the omega-6 fats in their diet. The top oils high in omega-6 fats are: soybean oil, corn oil, safflower oil and sunflower oil.  Westernized cultures are eating more omega-6 fats than ever  before, in the form of margarines, mayonnaise and salad dressings. 

The Omega-6 Fat to Omega-3 Fat Ratio Matters in Chronic Diseases