Omega 7 - The New Good Fat

Many people these days are familiar about the health benefits of Omega 3, 6 and 9. Have you heard of Omega 7 - the new good fat?

Before I proceed to Omega 7, let me make a short summary on Omega 3,6 and 9, so that we can understand omega 7 better.

Where can you find all this omega?

• Omega 3, also known as alpha-linolenic acid is abundant in flaxseed and fish oils.
• Omega 6, also known as linoleic acid can be found in borage and evening primrose oils.
• Omega 9, also known as oleic acid is abundant in olive and avocade oils.

Both Omega 3 and 6 area essential fatty acids that are crucial for the brain, heart, and immune system. They cannot be synthesized by the human body and must be obtained from diet or supplements.

On the other hand, Omega 9 is non-essential fatty acid, which help to lower cholesterol levels and build up the immune system. It can be produced by the body, or obtained from food.

Omega 7 - The New Good Fat

Omega 7 is a non-essential fatty acid found predominantly in sea buckthorn oil and macadamia nuts. Omega 7 is also known as palmitoleic acid. Let me summarizes the main benefits below:

Skin, hair and nails

Omega 7 provides key building blocks for skin, hair and nails. It helps combat wrinkles, dryness, loss of skin elasticity, and other symptoms of malnourished or aging skin. It also helps skin function properly by supporting numerous skin functions, such as boosting collagen production, enhance skin ability to retain moisture, protect against sun damage, toxins, and environmental stress.

Weight management

Taken internally, omega 7 fatty acid signals the body to stop storing fat. This amazing compound also helps the body maintain insulin sensitivity and fight off the imbalances that can result in metabolic syndrome. Insulin sensitivity plays a major role in helping the body convert glucose into energy, rather than storing it as fat. Research shows that omega 7 imitates a hormone in the body that helps regulate systemic metabolic activity.

Cardiovascular health

The increased access to omega 7 will benefit the cardiovascular system. The positive benefits to cardiovascular health includes:

(1) reduce the amount of bad cholesterol traveling through your arteries

(2) help smooth their passage, which in turn helps artery walls stay strong and resistant to tearing.

Gastro-intestinal health

Omega 7 has a soothing and smoothing effect on all the body’s sensitive internal linings. Omega 7 helps to nourish and hydrate internal organs and combat stressors, including excessive stomach acid or chronic inflammation. The body needs this powerful fatty acid to plump up those sensitive linings, just like it uses them to plump thin, stretched skin cells. 

Conclusion

While we await the results of ongoing randomized trials on Omega 7, the data so far is promising. With a potential drug-like effect on our heart, pancreas and liver. Omega 7 have the potential to become a household name, much like Omega 3 were a bit longer than a decade ago.

Clinical References: 

• Effect of dietary supplementation with sea buckthorn seed and pulp oils on the fatty composition of skin glycerophospholipids of patients with Atopic Dermatitis. Yang, B, et al., 2000, Jour Nutr BioChem, Vol. 11, 338-340. 

• Anti-inflammatory activity of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) leaves. Ganju, L et al., 2005, Intr Immunopharm, Vol. 5, 1675-1684. 

• Chronic administration of palmitoleic acid reduces insulin resistance and hepatic lipid accumulation in KK-Ay mice and genetic type 2 diabetes. Yang, et al., Lipids in Health and Disease, 2011, 10:120. 

• Serum Lipid Effects of a High–Monounsaturated Fat Diet Based on Macadamia Nuts. Curb, J. et al., 2000, Arch Intern Med/Vol. 160. 

• Lipoprotein composition and serum cholesterol ester fatty acids in nonwestern Melanesians. Lindeberg, S. et al., 1996, Lipids, Vol. 31, no. 2. 

• Trans-Palmitoleic Acid, Metabolic Risk Factors, and New-Onset Diabetes in U.S. Adults. Mozaffarian, D. et al., Annals Intr Med, 2010, Vol. 153, no. 12. 

• Sea buckthorn oils: Towards healthy mucous membranes. Erkkola, R. & Yang, B., 2003, AGROFood Industry, 53 (3).