Many consumers buying over-the-counter omega-3 fatty acid supplements may be getting rancid pills, according to a new study published Sept. 7 by researchers at the George Washington University. Derived from plants (algae) as well as seafood (fish, krill, etc.) , omega-3 supplements—sometimes labeled as fish oil—are often taken because of research that suggests they may provide health benefits.
Rancid omega-6s are potentially a much larger issue, and endemic to the Western diet. Palm oil is a particularly bad offender, but any oil that contains polyunsaturated fatty acids is not shelf stable. And beyond just “no health benefits”, racid PUFAs are actually fixated in your adipose cells as-is, meaning that any weight you gain is going to be in the form of oxidized fatty acids, which are a hallmark of aging.
Put all the pieces together and suddenly the mysterious reason that processed foods are “bad for you” makes a ton of sense.