International Journal of Ayurveda and Pharmaceutical Chemistry

11

Authors: Roshani Verma1* and Kirti Kumar Akhand2

Omega-3 & Omega-6 are essential unsaturated fatty acids. Acharya Charak has described about Sneha in Charak samhita, sutra sthana, and chapter 13/38-40. According to Acharya Charak, Haswa matra of sneha should be taken daily for all age groups. Similarly, Omega-3 & Omega-6 fatty acids found in various types of sneha (ghrita, taila, vasa, majja) like oil, butter, fishes, oily substances of different food materials also. The world is facing with many lifestyle disorders like Diabetes, Obesity, Hypertension, Cardiac diseases and many more diseases. These are due to unhealthy lifestyle and diet. In this article, we will highlight the concept of Omega 3 & Omega 6 fatty acids, which plays an important role in diet and many lifestyle disorders and how its ratio can cure us from many lifestyle disorders. Alpha linolenic acid (ALA) intake should be 1.6 gm/day in male and 1.1 gm/day in female. People should consume 2% of their total daily calories from Omega-3 fats. Omega-3 is helpful to reduce inflammation, prevent from excessive clotting, lower the level of cholesterol etc. Omega-6 is helpful in growth, especially for brain and muscle development. With the help of correct ratio of Omega-3 & Omega-6 fatty acids, we can cure and avoid various diseases like Alzheimer’s diseases, Asthma, Diabetes etc. In this article, we will describe how to lower excess Omega-6 and how to increase your Omega-3 for obtaining the correct ratio of these fatty acids. People should always include foods like Akharota (walnuts), Alasi (Flax seeds), fishes, and vegetables in their regular diet. This topic has been chosen because it is easy for Ayurveda physicians to maintain the correct ratio of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids in patient’s regular diet as Pathya-Apathya concept.