Fats That Heal, Fats That Harm: Is Your Fish Oil Really Working?
Discover why your Omega-6 to Omega-3 balance matters for inflammation, brain function, joint health and cellular repair — and how to test it.
By Dr Zoe Braund
As a practitioner, I personally trial almost every supplement before I recommend it to my clients. For the past 12 months, I have been taking what I considered to be one of the best-quality fish oils on the market. But recently, I decided to stop guessing and actually test my levels.
I completed the Zinzino BalanceTest, a simple finger-prick blood spot test that measures the essential fatty acids in your blood, including your Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio.
The result surprised me.
Even though I eat well, avoid processed oils where possible, and had been taking a quality fish oil, my Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio was still 9:1. This is better than the Australian average, but still far from the ideal balance of around 2:1.
Why does this matter?
Omega-3 fats, especially EPA and DHA, are important for healthy cell membranes, brain function, joint health, recovery, inflammation balance, skin health and cellular communication. DHA is often thought of as “brain fat”, while EPA plays a key role in supporting the body’s healthy inflammatory response. This is essential for children’s growing brains for focus, attention and learning.
The challenge is that the modern Australian diet is flooded with Omega-6 oils, especially through packaged foods, takeaway foods, and industrial seed oils such as:
Canola oil
Sunflower oil
Peanut oil
Soybean oil
Corn oil
Safflower oil
Cottonseed oil
Omega-6 fats are not “bad” in the right amount, but when they massively outweigh Omega-3s, the body may shift into a more inflammatory state. This can affect how your cells communicate, repair, recover and function.
Since switching to Zinzino BalanceOil, I have noticed a real difference. After just five weeks, my hands are no longer aching after a full day of treating, my foot and joint pain has eased, my thinking feels clearer, and my skin feels healthier.
What I love about Zinzino is that it is not just another fish oil. It combines high-quality marine Omega-3 oils with polyphenol-rich olive oil to help keep the oil stable and fresh. It also has no fishy aftertaste. The kids’ version comes in a bubblegum flavour and can be mixed into yoghurt, juice or milk, while the adult orange-mint flavour is easy to take straight off the spoon.
Simple steps you can start at home
This week, try making a few small swaps:
Read the labels on packaged foods and look for hidden seed oils.
Avoid canola, sunflower, peanut, soybean and corn oils where possible.
Cook with better fats such as extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, butter or coconut oil.
Eat oily fish 2–3 times per week, such as salmon, sardines or mackerel.
Stop guessing and test your levels so you know what is actually happening inside your body.
Special offer: Zinzino BalanceTest
For a limited time, we have a small number of Zinzino BalanceTests available for $150, instead of the usual $330.
BalanceOil is generally recommended for 4–6 months, followed by a retest every 4 months to track your fatty acid profile and progress.
Clients can also save by signing up with Zinzino for 6 months. One bottle with postage is approximately $72, compared with the regular retail price of around $100 per bottle.
We have already seen some wonderful results in the clinic. One client with severe osteoarthritic pain, alongside chiropractic care, laser therapy and BalanceOil, experienced a significant improvement in pain and mobility in less than a month.
Your cells cannot function at their best if they do not have the right building blocks.
If you are a chiropractic client wanting better recovery, joint support and inflammation balance, or a BrainShape family wanting to support brain health, focus, learning and nervous system function, this is a simple and powerful place to start.
Ask us in the clinic about the Zinzino BalanceTest and BalanceOil, or speak to us at your next appointment to find out whether it may be right for you.