Facts About Omega 3

Omega-3 are the essential fatty acids acknowledged as the “super-unsaturates”. They are a family of crucial nutrients which when present in the diet over a long period, might have thousands of times the power of aspirin to break the inflammatory reactions responsible for arthritis, migraines, colitis, and other similar ailments.

In the early 1980s, surveys showed that the Inuit had low rates of heart disease in spite of their high-fat diet rich in fish. It turns out the omega 3 fatty acids in the fish might be what protects their hearts, along with other health benefits.

Omega 3 Benefits

1.    Freedom from painfulness and inflammation.
2.    Improve brain function and higher intelligence.
3.    Feel better with much less depression.
4.    Bring down incidence of childhood disorders.
5.    Excellent cardiovascular health.
6.    Protection from heart attack and stroke.
7.    Reducing of breast, colon and prostate cancer.

Essential ingredients of Omega-3s

Omega-3s are surely among the healthiest components of any diet and supplement program. These crucial fatty acids from marine sources are responsible for a lot of health benefits:

DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is crucial for helping pregnant women carry their babies to full term and provide the maximum nourishment for visual and neurological development. DHA affects learning in young children, normalizing brain function, helps promote emotional and psychological well-being, preserves eyesight, insulin resistance (pre-diabetes and diabetes) and eases digestive and reproductive difficulties.

EPA (eicosapentanoic acid) is credited with helping reduce excessive blood clotting and inflammation that may lead to heart disease. EPA also plays a part in reducing stress, keeping physical energy levels up, eye health and optimal brain function.

Sources of Omega 3

   1. Eat fatty fish at least twice per week and even daily whenever practical and economical for you. If not, you could supplement with fish oil (1.5-3 grams of combined DHA/EPA daily)

   2. Omega 6 fatty acids are also crucial, but most people have an unbalanced omega 3 to omega 6 ratio. This can be remedied by increasing the omega 3 intake and or reducing the omega 6 intake (by decreasing consumption of refined foods, processed grains, and supermarket cooking oils, with the exclusion of extra virgin olive oil)

   3. Grind up flaxseeds and dot them on salads or add them to oatmeal, protein shakes or morning cereals. Alternately, supplement with flaxseed oil; 1 tbsp is equal to 3 tbsp flaxseeds (use as a supplement; Not for cooking)

   4. Snack on walnuts, which contain small amounts of omega 3 fats (other types of nuts and seeds can also contain large quantities of omega 3 fats)

   5. Increase your intake of leafy greens which contain modest amounts of omega 3 fats.

   6. If you eat red meat, try game meats or grass fed beef or bison. they dont have nearly the amount of omega-3 as marine sources, but they are higher in omega-3 and have a better omega-3 to omega-6 ratio than conventionally raised and fed beef.

   7. Try omega-3 fortified eggs instead of usual eggs.