Episode #151: Dr. Bill Harris: Fatty Acids and The Omega-3 Index

I’m joined by Dr. Bill Harris, PhD, FASN, President of the Fatty Acid Research Institute and Founder of OmegaQuant Analytics. We’re diving into omega-6s and omega-3s and discussing the benefits of these fatty acids and where they come from. We also cover the importance of maintaining a ratio of omega-6 and omega-3, and whether or not omega-3s have an effect on blood clotting and blood circulation. Dr. Harris has been a leading researcher in the omega-3 fatty acid field for over 40 years. He has more than 300 scientific papers on fatty acids and health, the vast majority on omega-3. He has been on the faculty of three medical schools (Universities of Kansas, Missouri (at Kansas City), and South Dakota), and has received 5 NIH grants to study omega-3. He was the co-author on three AHA statements on fatty acids and heart health. As the co-inventor of the Omega-3 Index (and other omega-3 blood tests) and founder of OmegaQuant Analytics, Dr. Harris has been ranked among the top 2% of scientists worldwide based on the impact of his research.    What we discuss: 00:02:38 - Omega-3s and their effects on blood clotting and blood circulation  00:07:23 - The value of omega-6 00:11:54 - The ratio of omega-6 and omega-3 00:18:03 - Where do arachidonic acid and linoleic acid come from, and what do they do? 00:25:22 - The components of omega-3s 00:31:04 - EPA and DHA   00:41:35 - Is there a relationship between omega-6 and omega-3 levels and longevity? 00:46:31 - Fish as a source of omega-3  00:57:21 - Mammalian sourced omega-3s 01:06:35 - 3 things to keep in mind about omega-3s and omega-6s  Key Takeaways: Looking at levels of omega-6 fatty acids in the blood can predict future diseases like heart disease and diabetes.  Increasing your levels of omega-3 is more important than worrying about getting your omega-6 levels down in order to have a good ratio between the two.  It’s important to measure your omega-3 levels. These levels are predictive of good health outcomes and even cholesterol levels.    Find more about Nathalie: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmholC48MqRC50UffIZOMOQ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/biohackingsuperhumanperformance Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathalieniddam/ Website: NatNiddam.com Join Nat’s Membership Community: https://www.natniddam.com/bsp-community Work with Nat: Book Your 20 MInute Optimization Consult: https://calendly.com/nniddam/intro-call?month=2021-08   Find more about Dr. Bill Harris: Website: www.omegaquant.com, www.fareinst.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Omega3Index Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omega3index/?hl=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/omegaquant-analytics/?viewAsMember=true Twitter: https://twitter.com/OmegaQuant YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZhRX5MX7-dFLXNZjsjhKKw   Thank you to our sponsors for making this episode possible: OmegaQuant: Use code NAT5 to save 5% on any OmegaQuant test at https://omegaquant.com/ref/NAT5/ Mitopure: Use code NAT10 for 10% off Timeline Nutrition Products at https://www.mitopure.com/ LMNT: Use Drinklmnt.com/NAT to get 8 free single serves with any order to try different flavors. Berkeley Life: Use practitioner code NIDDBL for 10% off at berkeleylife.com