Omega-3 Fatty Acids Can Benefit Your Health And The Way You Feel
You need omega-3 fatty acids in order to maintain a healthy heart. You may be wondering does my body produce this on its own? What foods have this fat in them? Isn’t fat bad for me? I would like to answer these questions and more in the following paragraphs.
Our bodies don’t produce this fat so we need to get it from the foods we eat or in the form of dietary supplements. Of course, many fats are bad for you, but this type is known as a polyunsaturated fatty acid and is an essential part of good cardiac health.
Foods that are rich in this important fat include salmon, trout, sardines, herring, and other fatty fishes as well as walnuts and walnut oil. There are also some foods that have been supplemented with this nutrient such as eggs and peanut butter (it will indicate this on the packaging).
The American Heart Association states that research has shown omega-3 fatty acids decrease risk of heart arrhythmias, lower triglyceride levels, and reduce the growth rate of atherosclerotic plaque. The heart requires EPA (eicospentaenoic acid) to maintain proper circulation and this essential fatty acid is contained in fish oil. By eating a variety of fatty fish at least twice a week or fish oil dietary supplements on a daily basis you can significantly decrease your risk of heart attack and other heart disease ailments
There are more benefits of this amazing fat than just helping your heart. People who have arthritis in various forms have found that their joints improved in flexibility and noticed less stiffness after taking sufficient amounts of omega-3 fatty acids in the form of fish oil supplements. The anti-inflammatory properties in this nutrient also reduced their need for pain medications.
Since I am encouraging that you consume fish I feel it necessary to also give you a precautionary warning. I would recommend that you go to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration web site that shows mercury levels in commercial fish. The top four fish that have the highest levels of contaminants and should be avoided entirely are the king mackerel, shark, swordfish, and tilefish. These were reportedly caught off the Gulf of Mexico, as that area has high mercury concentration in its waters.
On the other hand, a region in the Southern Ocean off the coast of New Zealand is one area that has been tested and found to be free of pollution and heavy metals. One of the fish well known to this particular area is the hoki which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
The oil from these fish is used in producing some fish oil dietary supplements as well. I would suggest looking for manufacturers who get their fish from this region, to be ensured of a safe, more pure product.
I hope you have been able to see the importance of adding omega-3 rich foods and supplements to your diet for your heart as well as improving your overall good health. Check out my website listed below in the bio section for more omega 3 information.
Elizabeth Ruby is passionate about good health and is a firm believer in taking quality nutritional supplements. She has extensively researched Omega 3 fatty acids for optimal health. Check out her web site at www.omega-3-health.com/ to find out how she keeps her mind and body young and active, functioning fully with the help of Omega 3 Fish Oil.
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