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Discover Fish Dha And Its Benefits
When olive oil or walnuts are recommended as sources for omega-3 fatty acids, the people making the recommendations are talking about ALA (alpha-linolenic acid). ALA is the shortest of the long-chained omega-3s. The body can convert some ALA to the longer ones, but only a very small percentage gets converted, somewhere between 2 and 10% depending on the person. In the case of a strict vegan diet, a person must “get by” on the small amount that is converted, unless they want to take a marine algae supplement. Some types of marine algae or seaweed contain small amounts of Docosahexaenoic acid and Eicosapentaenoic acid. Some supplement manufacturers have started growing the algae in bioreactors, in order to provide a suitable vegan alternative for the fatty acids. Although a vegan diet is generally a healthy one, some supplements are necessary, if a person wants to stay healthy for life. Research has shown that fish DHA and EPA lower blood triglyceride levels and improve cardiovascular function. One study showed that regular supplementation decreased the thickness of the arteries and improved blood flow, which means a decreased risk of atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. For women that wish to become pregnant, Docosahexaenoic acid is essential for normal brain development in the fetus. For men, there are proven benefits in sperm count and motility. For children, there are benefits in attention deficit disorders. For everyone, there are benefits in inflammatory or painful conditions like arthritis and inflammatory bowel. Overall, the benefits of fish DHA almost seem too good to be true; too much to believe. But, these benefits have been proven again and again. Instead of finding new drugs, we really need to teach people how and what to eat. Too many calories are bad. Too much dietary fat is bad. But, some fats are better than others. Only about 30% of a person’s total caloric intake should come from fat. For people with type II diabetes and similar health problems, doctors normally recommend only about 20% of total calories come from fat. When you do add fat to your diet, you should choose the best kinds of fat. The best kinds of fat include olives, nuts and fish DHA. Taking a supplement is a good idea for anyone that does not normally eat seafood. Because of the mercury content in most species, it is probably safer to take a supplement, anyway. Consumption advisories have been posted by many public health agencies. For example, pregnant women should consume no more than 2 servings per week of low-mercury seafood. Supplements can be distilled to remove mercury and other contaminants. They can’t do that with seafood. It would destroy the food. Make no mistake about it. Manufacturers have different standards concerning the allowable level of contaminants. Consumers should learn about those standards, before they buy a supplement. There’s always more to learn about fish DHA, too. Studies are going on as we speak. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com Laurel Cohen is a strong advocate of natural health in all its forms: skin care, supplementation, and farm fresh foods. She enjoys introducing people to the best natural products she can find and uses herself daily. Visit her site www.omega-3-for-health.com to learn about the omega 3 fish oils Laurel uses daily for optimal health. |
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