Omega 9 Side Effects

The omega fatty acid family has received much attention in health news and product promotion. While these nutrients are often grouped together, they actually play very distinct roles in your body’s function.

Identification

• The monounsaturated fat, oleic acid, or omega 9 fatty acid, is the only nonessential fatty acid of the omega 3-6-9 trio. If you get enough omega 3 and 6 in your diet, your body can produce omega 9.

Benefits

• According to Men’s Total Fitness, omega 9 lowers cholesterol, reduces hardening of the arteries, improves immune function and helps protect against some types of cancer.

Sources

• Sources of omega 9 include olives and olive oil, avocados, peanuts, animal fats, sesame oil and most other varieties of nuts.

Considerations

• The average American diet contains a surplus of omega 6 and 9, and a lack of omega 3’s. Eating more flax seed oil, walnuts and fish and reducing red meat and hydrogenated fats corrects the imbalance.

Side Effects

• Inflammation and related conditions are the only potential negative side effects of improper omega 9 intake. Inflammation can worsen when omega 6 and 9 are not balanced with enough omega 3’s.