subject: The Truth About Omega-3 Fatty Acid Benefits [print this page] These essential nutrients can be found naturally in certain foods. Plant sources Omega-3 fatty acids include flaxseed, walnuts, chia, and marine algae. Of these, marine algae are the source that directly provides DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) which is said to be most beneficial.
Fish oil is the best source of Omega-3 fatty acid because it provides DHA. Among fish rich in this oil include salmon, halibut, mackerel, tuna and hoki (or blue grenadier). Fish do not actually make these oils but obtain them from marine algae.
For people who don't get enough Omega-3 fatty acids in their diets, supplements are widely and readily available over the counter. However, not all fish oil supplements are created equal. Some may contain but a miniscule of the active ingredients and a lot of filler. The quality of your supplement of choice is therefore of high importance. Going cheap is may be kind for your wallet but not your health.
The benefits of taking an Omega-3 supplement are many and include:
* Lowered blood pressure
* Lowered triglycerides
* Lower risk of Alzheimer's disease
* Helpful in brain and eye development of unborn and newborn babies
* Cancer-fighting benefits
Omega-3 fatty acids are recommended and even prescribed for people with high LDL (bad) cholesterol and/or triglycerides as they can help raise levels of HDL (good) cholesterol in the body. The good cholesterol sweeps plaque from the veins and arteries and prevents hardening of the arteries, thereby reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
A recent study in mice found that increasing levels of Omega-3 fatty acids lowered the occurrence of Alzheimer's disease in mice. While this isn't a cure for Alzheimer's, it is a promising discovery for people with risk factors of Alzheimer's disease. It seems that Omega-3's can reduce the buildup of two proteins in the brain associated with Alzheimer's disease.
It has also been known that the Omega-3 fatty acid DHA is responsible for the brain and eye development of babies. This fatty acid is found in higher concentrations in breast milk than in formula, but has been added to formula in recent years. Many prenatal vitamins are also catching onto the importance of DHA in a mother's prenatal care and are including this essential fatty acid in many prenatal vitamins.
Aside from all the other benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids, they are high in cancer fighting agents. Some studies have found that people who have diets high in Omega-3 fatty acids are able to better suppress the growth of cancerous cells. Findings have been confirmed by studying the diets of Alaskan Eskimos, whose diets are rich in salmon and other foods containing high concentrations of Omega-3 fatty acids.
There are a wide variety of Omega-3 fatty acid benefits. The most common benefits people can obtain from a diet rich in Omega-3 are lowered blood pressure and overall good cardiovascular health. These alone are reason enough for anyone to add these essential fatty acids in the diet.
