{"id":34694,"date":"2016-07-11T11:30:02","date_gmt":"2016-07-11T15:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hhoupgrade.wpengine.com\/?p=34694"},"modified":"2025-01-29T21:08:47","modified_gmt":"2025-01-30T02:08:47","slug":"what-is-linoleic-acid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthyhempoil.com\/what-is-linoleic-acid\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Linoleic Acid?"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/b>Making up a substantial part of the lipids (naturally occurring molecules) in the human body, fatty acids are an important source of energy.<\/span><\/p>\n

More than 60 fatty acids have been found in blood plasma and tissues. However, only a small fraction are relevant. A large body of evidence regarding fatty acids, total fat content, and human health shows that major groups of fatty acids can be associated with a diverse range of health effects. <\/span><\/p>\n

If your diet lacks an adequate amount of specific fatty acids, you may experience deficiency symptoms, such as dry and flaky skin, dry eyes, excessive thirst, and stiff and painful joints.<\/span><\/p>\n

One vital fatty acid is linoleic acid, which is the focus of this article. What is linoleic acid? And why is it important?<\/span><\/p>\n

What is Linoleic Acid: Characteristics & Attributes<\/b><\/h2>\n


\nTwo of the main fatty acids essential for a healthy diet are linoleic fatty acid (otherwise known as omega-6) and alpha-linolenic acid (AKA omega-3). <\/span><\/p>\n

Both are polyunsaturated fatty acids, which essentially means that, at a molecular level, they possess two or more double bonds and lack several hydrogen atoms found in saturated fatty acids.<\/span><\/p>\n

Linoleic acid helps keep the skin impermeable to water, but, in order to bring about other effects, it must be metabolized (changed into a form that can be used by the body).<\/span><\/p>\n

What Are the Health Benefits of Linoleic Acid?<\/b><\/h2>\n


\nAccording to <\/span>research<\/span><\/a> undertaken by the Harvard School of Public Health, consuming more linoleic acid via vegetable oil, nuts, and seeds, rather than the saturated fat found in dairy and red meat, can actually lower the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD).<\/span><\/p>\n

Replacing either the saturated fat or carbohydrates in your diet with vegetable oils can lead to significant benefits with regard to heart health. Clinical trials have suggested that, by replacing saturated fat with linoleic acid, your total and LDL cholesterol are reduced. Additionally, there is evidence that linoleic acid improves blood pressure and insulin sensitivity.<\/span><\/p>\n

The data from the aforementioned study provide strong support that substituting saturated fat with vegetable oils rich in polyunsaturated fat is important for the prevention of heart disease. <\/span><\/p>\n

And, consistent with the <\/span>American Heart Association<\/span><\/a> guidelines, the study\u2019s data continue to support the consumption of a 5-10% energy intake from linoleic acid in order to decrease CHD risk.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Which Oils Are Rich in Linoleic Acid?<\/b><\/h2>\n

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The good news is, when it comes to the Western diet, linoleic acid is the predominant polyunsaturated fatty acid. We can obtain it from sunflower, safflower, soybean, canola, and corn oils as well as from nuts and seeds.<\/span><\/p>\n

To put this in context, a tablespoon of corn or soybean oil contains around 8 grams of linoleic acid, and seven shelled walnuts will provide around 11 grams. <\/span><\/p>\n

Canola and soybean oils, and those shelled walnuts, also contain substantial amounts of the alpha-linolenic acid (the omega-3 fatty acid).<\/span><\/p>\n

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What About Other Sources of Omega-3 and Omega-6?<\/b><\/h2>\n

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Beyond those previously mentioned oils, nuts, and seeds, the best way to increase your omega-3 and omega-6 intake is to eat the following kinds of high-quality food:<\/span><\/p>\n