Now a days, Omega 3 fatty acids are all the rage in the nutrition world. But do many people really understand what a fatty acid is? Without going into an intense description of chemical bonds and points of unsaturation (huh?), here is a brief overview of the chemical makeup of a fatty acid. A fatty acid is a chain of carbon atoms with hydrogen atoms attached. Now for everyone who has not taken a chemistry class, all fatty acids are composed of Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), and Oxygen (O). The reason why these fatty acids can provide so much energy for our body is because they have a more carbon and hydrogen atoms in proportion to oxygen atoms. This allows them to supply more energy per gram, and are necessary for normal metabolism. You may be asking yourself, can't my body make these fatty acids on its own? And the answer is yes, it can make all but two of them – linoleic acid (omega-6 fatty acids), and linolenic acid (omega 3 fatty acids). Because our bodies cannot make these two, they are known as essential fatty acids, and must be supplied by your diet. The best ways to obtain these fatty acids in your diet is through vegetable oils, seeds, nuts, fish, other marine foods, and dietary supplements.
Aside from the confusing chemistry, there are simple reasons why you need essential fatty acids in your body. Not only are they necessary for normal metabolism, but there are a lot of other potential health benefits as well. The long chain omega – 3 fatty acids – EPA and DHA omega 3's – are best known for benefiting health. Evidence suggests these fatty acids may:
- Increase blood circulation, and therefore reduces blood pressure as well as risk of heart attack
- Reduce risk of ischemic and thrombotic stroke
- Anti-cancer effects
- Reduced risk of cardiovascular disease
- Improved immune function
- May delay or prevent the progression of certain psychotic disorders
- Improve memory
- Improve human depression
- Anti-inflammatory activity
- Prevent and treat asthma
- Prevent and treat arthritis and osteoarthritis
The health benefits listed above exist for a few reasons. DHA and EPA are shown to produce prostaglandins. I know what your thinking, a prosta-what? This is a substance found in your body that helps to regulate inflammation, fights infections, helps with blood clotting, fertility, conception, and heart rate. They also help to keep your blood moving without any stickiness or thickness, which is why it helps to reduce blood pressure, cholesterol, and reduce your risk of heart disease. They also have been shown to reduce stress on your cardiovascular system, which will further help to protect your heart. For more in depth information about the health benefits of essential fatty acids, visit the University of Marylands Medical Center Site at: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/omega-3-000316.html
So who should take these supplements? Let's make this simple. Essential fatty acid's support the cardiovascular, reproductive, immune, and nervous systems. So if you are human, and have any of these systems in your body, it may be a good idea to incorporate these into your daily diet. For proper dosage and recommended daily intakes, visit the MayoClinic at: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fish-oil/NS_patient-fishoil/DSECTION=dosing.
Seems easy right? But for many people, these high sources of essential fatty acids are prevalent in foods that they do not enjoy. This is when nutritional supplementation comes in to play. One supplement we have come across is the O-Mega-Zen3 capsules, made with a vegetarian formula. If these are supplements you think your diet may benefit from, here are the links to a couple supplements we have found to be very useful:
Click below to view all of Live Superfoods Fish oil supplements. They are raw and not processed in a factory like most fish oil supplements
No comments:
Post a Comment