The truths and myths about the relationship between omega-6 and omega-3 intake and prevention of obesity are revealed in this podcast.

The Editor in Chief of Open Heart, Pascal Meier, interviews Artemis Simopoulos, the author of an editorial which underlines the importance of finding the balance on the consumption of fatty-acids, by lowering the amount of omega-6 intake and increasing the amount of omega-3. “If we don’t do this, I don’t think we will ever be able to lower the body weight of the population closer to a normal range”, she says.

Dr. Artemis Simopoulos, the Founder and President of the Center for Genetics, Nutrition and Health, Washington, DC, advocates that the preferred ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 for optimal health is 1:2/1. Therefore, it is time to replace popular cooking oils such as sunflower or corn oil, by canola, flaxseed or nuts oils, specially in Western countries.

With the same balance in mind, “the intake of green leafy vegetables [rich in omega-3 fatty acids] and fruit needs to be considered very seriously”.

Read the full article here: http://openheart.bmj.com/content/3/2/e000385.full.