Getting enough omega-3 fatty acids from diet alone can be tough. There are sources that can provide these essential nutrients but eating enough of these foods can sometimes be overwhelming. Fish Oil, some nuts (English Walnuts), and vegetable oils such as flax seed oil, canola oil, olive oil, and soybean oil are all great sources of EPA, DHA, and ALA. These are the three blind mice of omega-3 fatty acids.
It is common knowledge that omega-3 fatty acids, when included in a healthy diet, reduce triglycerides, help lower blood pressure, prevent hardening of the arteries, reduce the risk of heart attacks, and lower blood pressure. However, overdoing this wonder of nature causes some harmful effects such as increased blood clotting times. Increasing the amount of foods to achieve the beneficial effects of fish oil is even more difficult due to the risk of environmentally contaminated fish.
After years of study, thousands of medical trials and a preponderance of anecdotal evidence, more than 100 medical conditions respond to treatment with supplemental omega-3 fatty acids. However, these are the top 5 medical conditions treated most consistently with supplementation: Primary Cardiac Disease Prevention, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Atherosclerosis, Depression, and Cancer Prevention. Although there are plenty of stories that suggest these conditions benefit from the inclusion of fish oil supplements, testing continues to occur all over the world to unlock these benefits.
One of the major problems with the Western or American diet is the consumption of omega-6 fatty acids is typically more than 10 times the intake of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-6 fatty acids compete with omega-3 acids for conversion in the body. Increasing the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in the diet or by supplementation and decreasing the consumption of omega-6 fatty acids can help to offset this imbalance. The normal 18 year-old and older adults should eat some type of fatty fish at least twice per week according to the American Heart Association (AHA). Catfish, mackerel, tuna, anchovies, striped sea bass, herring, lake trout, and salmon are great examples of the type of fish that can provide high levels of omega-3 fatty acids. Plant sources of ALA such as flax seed oil, canola oil, and walnuts are an important part of the over all diet plan.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not strictly regulate nutritional supplements and herbs so the user must carefully evaluate the purity of different products. Any side effects from the addition of a supplement should be addressed by a healthcare professional. The FDA generally regards the addition of up to 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids to an adult diet as safe. Diabetics should be careful as they may experience increases in blood sugar levels. Stomach upsets are common when beginning supplementation with fish oil. "Fish Burps" are a common side effect also. These effects are reduced by taking supplements with meals and by slowly increasing the dosage over time. Because of high levels of contamination in many open water species of fish, the purity of your supplements remains one of the highest considerations when deciding on the brand of supplementation that you choose.
The benefits of taking fish oil to increase health and reduce the effects of aging has been proven by looking at the diets of people who routinely have high levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their native diet. Most western cultures require additional supplementation to meet the needs of modern life. Take the time to learn about the benefits of supplementing your diet with fish oil. Your life will improve when you increase the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. Find the right product, take the right amount, and reap the benefits of fish oil today.
It is common knowledge that omega-3 fatty acids, when included in a healthy diet, reduce triglycerides, help lower blood pressure, prevent hardening of the arteries, reduce the risk of heart attacks, and lower blood pressure. However, overdoing this wonder of nature causes some harmful effects such as increased blood clotting times. Increasing the amount of foods to achieve the beneficial effects of fish oil is even more difficult due to the risk of environmentally contaminated fish.
After years of study, thousands of medical trials and a preponderance of anecdotal evidence, more than 100 medical conditions respond to treatment with supplemental omega-3 fatty acids. However, these are the top 5 medical conditions treated most consistently with supplementation: Primary Cardiac Disease Prevention, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Atherosclerosis, Depression, and Cancer Prevention. Although there are plenty of stories that suggest these conditions benefit from the inclusion of fish oil supplements, testing continues to occur all over the world to unlock these benefits.
One of the major problems with the Western or American diet is the consumption of omega-6 fatty acids is typically more than 10 times the intake of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-6 fatty acids compete with omega-3 acids for conversion in the body. Increasing the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in the diet or by supplementation and decreasing the consumption of omega-6 fatty acids can help to offset this imbalance. The normal 18 year-old and older adults should eat some type of fatty fish at least twice per week according to the American Heart Association (AHA). Catfish, mackerel, tuna, anchovies, striped sea bass, herring, lake trout, and salmon are great examples of the type of fish that can provide high levels of omega-3 fatty acids. Plant sources of ALA such as flax seed oil, canola oil, and walnuts are an important part of the over all diet plan.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not strictly regulate nutritional supplements and herbs so the user must carefully evaluate the purity of different products. Any side effects from the addition of a supplement should be addressed by a healthcare professional. The FDA generally regards the addition of up to 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids to an adult diet as safe. Diabetics should be careful as they may experience increases in blood sugar levels. Stomach upsets are common when beginning supplementation with fish oil. "Fish Burps" are a common side effect also. These effects are reduced by taking supplements with meals and by slowly increasing the dosage over time. Because of high levels of contamination in many open water species of fish, the purity of your supplements remains one of the highest considerations when deciding on the brand of supplementation that you choose.
The benefits of taking fish oil to increase health and reduce the effects of aging has been proven by looking at the diets of people who routinely have high levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their native diet. Most western cultures require additional supplementation to meet the needs of modern life. Take the time to learn about the benefits of supplementing your diet with fish oil. Your life will improve when you increase the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. Find the right product, take the right amount, and reap the benefits of fish oil today.
No comments:
Post a Comment