subject: What is Omega 3 Good For and What is the Best Source? [print this page] You may have been hearing a lot about omega 3 recently as more people discover its health giving qualities. Discover more about this substance here and why it is essential to your health.
So what is omega 3 fatty acid and what is it good for?
Omega 3 is present in many different foods including meat, chicken, nuts, green vegetables and fatty fish. It is the good polyunsaturated fat that you need more of.
The type present in fish gives you two main ones called EPA and DHA. Vegetarian sources give you ALA which is not as useful and used differently by the body.
DHA is proven to be responsible for most health benefits and can easily be converted to EPA if the body needs it. This conversion does not happen the other way round.
The benefits of omega 3 are immense and should not be understated. Their powerful anti-inflammatory properties help to lower your risk of death from a heart attack or stroke by 40%.
Improved cardiovascular health, balanced cholesterol, stronger immune system, lower blood pressure, improved brain health and mental well being, help in preventing cancers and better vision and memory are just some of the many.
The US National Eye Institute states that omega 3 reduces the risk of age related blindness by over 30% in a recent study and found that that it helps the eyes by acting as an anti-inflammatory. It is worth noting that DHA fats are present in the retina of the eye too.
The best sources of omega 3 are cold water fatty fish like salmon, hoki and tuna. Because of the pollutants in the oceans and rivers today, fresh fish contain many toxins in their flesh. Common ones found today include mercury, lead, PCB's and arsenic.
The best solution is to take daily fish oils rich in omega 3 fatty acids so you can control the amount and purity.
If your supplements are distilled, then all of the toxins will have been removed to leave the oil safe and pure. Simply check the label or website to see.
A high level of DHA will provide you with the most benefits, especially for your heart and brain, so look to get at least 270mg in each 1000mg capsule.
Why not make a point of getting more of this essential omega 3 into your daily diet so you can enjoy improved health now and avoid many serious diseases later on in life.
If you would like to learn more about the pure DHA fish oil supplements I personally take, visit my website below.
What is Omega 3 Good For and What is the Best Source?