When it comes to our health, not all fatty acids are created equal. Omega-3 and omega-6 are both essential (and our bodies can’t make them on their own), but balance is key. These fatty acids serve as the building blocks for cell membranes, fuel our bodies with energy, and play crucial roles in brain and nervous system development. They are especially important during periods of rapid growth, such as pregnancy, infancy, and childhood, when the brain and body are developing at lightning speed.
Omega-3s are valued for their calming effect on inflammation, making them vital for heart, joint, and brain health. Omega-6 fatty acids are also essential for good health, even though they may seem like the bad guy. They provide energy, help build strong cell membranes, and play an important role in growth, brain function, and even the body’s natural healing process. They’re also converted into hormone-like compounds that regulate blood clotting, immune function, and inflammation, which are necessary for fighting infections and repairing injuries.
The Body’s Messengers
Both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are types of polyunsaturated fats, and their power comes from the way our bodies convert them into signaling molecules called eicosanoids. That’s a lot of jargon that we can boil down into this: those molecules act almost like messengers, telling the body when to turn inflammation on or off, when to clot blood, and how blood vessels should expand and contract. Omega-6s tend to produce messengers that are more pro-inflammatory, which is helpful for things like healing a cut or fighting infection. Omega-3s, on the other hand, produce messengers that are more anti-inflammatory, helping the body calm down after the “repair work” is done.
When omega-6s, which are common in processed foods and vegetable oils, significantly outweigh omega-3s, the imbalance can contribute to inflammation. Over time, this ongoing inflammation is linked to health concerns such as cardiovascular issues, joint pain, insulin resistance, digestive problems, and even mood imbalances. In children, it may also play a role in concentration difficulties or skin conditions like eczema. While omega-6 fatty acids are important in moderation, supporting the body’s natural healing and immune response, keeping them in balance with omega-3s keeps inflammation in check and promotes long-term resilience.
The average ratio of omega-6s to omega-3s in today’s Western diets is 15:1, which is far from ideal from an inflammation perspective. Anthropologically speaking, early humans who ate mostly animals consumed these fats at ratios of 2:1 to 4:1, while the seafood-eating Inuit had a ratio of 1:4, with other pre-industrial diets generally falling somewhere in between. All this to say that the human body has evolved to expect a considerably more balanced ratio than the current average.
It’s pretty easy to get omega-6s into our diets: consumption of vegetable oil has dramatically increased as our society has moved to convenience-based diets. That’s why it’s so important to make space for omega-3-rich foods in the family diet. Plant-based sources such as flax, chia, hemp seeds, and walnuts, as well as sustainably sourced fish, all contribute to restoring a healthier omega balance. Small daily choices—like sprinkling hemp hearts on oatmeal, blending flax into smoothies, or choosing fish a couple of times a week—can add up to big impacts over time. But of course, those small daily choices are just one more thing when it comes to being a busy parent trying to get the kids out the door. So AOR’s Hemp Seed Oil is another option to help balance fatty acids (and it’s a pretty good choice for the planet too!).
How Hemp Seed Oil Can Help
As a gentle, plant-based oil with a 3:1 omega ratio, hemp seed oil has been trusted for a long time, offering natural support for healthy skin, strong hair, balanced hormones, and even proper digestion and brain function. It’s the kind of everyday nourishment that fits seamlessly into family life, helping you feel your best without relying on anything artificial.
Ready for some acronyms? The three most common omega-3 fats include ALA, EPA and DHA, while the four types of omega-6 fatty acids are LA, AA, GLA and CLA. Hemp seed oil has high levels of the LA, GLA and ALA. But hold on, isn’t that a lot of omega-6s? Well, there’s an exception to every rule, right? Gamma-linoleic acid (that’s the GLA) that’s found in hemp seed oil has been shown to reduce inflammation—despite omega-6 commonly being considered inflammatory—making it a well-balanced fatty acid supplement for your overall health.
Plus, hemp seed oil is an earth-friendly crop—fast-growing, low in water needs, and naturally tough enough to thrive with limited use of pesticides, if any. As it grows, it captures carbon from the air and enriches the soil it’s rooted in, leaving the land healthier for future harvests. AOR’s Hemp Seed Oil is sustainably sourced, making it an eco-friendly powerhouse for your wellness that also keeps the fish in the sea.
While many seed oils are produced through heavy refining or high-heat extraction, these methods can strip away delicate nutrients and alter the natural profile of the oil. AOR’s Hemp Seed Oil is cold pressed instead, which is a gentle process that avoids heat and harsh solvents. This allows the oil to retain its full spectrum of essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and plant-based nutrients: exactly as nature intended. By keeping the oil close to its raw state, cold pressing helps preserve both its integrity and its benefits.
The result is a plant-based oil that’s as versatile as it is thoughtfully crafted. Each vegan-friendly AOR capsule provides a source of essential fatty acids, supporting your commitment to wellness and sustainability. With a focus on purity and minimal processing, it’s a choice you can feel good about.
