Eli5:why are omega-3 so important for the brain?

Question

And what’s the difference between omega 3, 6 and 9?

In: Biology

Answer 1

All of those fats are poly unsaturated fats. Fats are long chains of carbon atoms, with hydrogens attached to them. A saturated fat has as much hydrogen as physically possible. Mono Unsaturated has 1 double bond connecting 2 of the carbons, so 2 less hydrogens than saturated. Poly unsaturated fats have multiple double bonds in multiple locations.

Omega 3/6/9 refers to the location of the last double bond, so an omega 3 has the last double bond 3 away from the end. 6 would be 6 from end.

Poly unsaturated fats are not produced by the body, so we only get it from diet, which is why it’s stressed as important to get.