Omega 3 Fatty Asids Information
Omega-3 fatty acids include EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid), DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid), and ALA (Alpha-Linolenic acid). EPA and DHA are the most valuable Omega-3s to health and wellness. Both EPA and DHA play an important role in the normal function of your heart, your brain, your eyes, your nervous system, and your kidney. These essential fatty acids have also been proven to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and inflammation.
EPA and DHA are functionally essential because they are important for your health and you cannot make them on your own effectively. Your body can make EPA and DHA from ALA that you consume, but only in small quantities and in an inefficient manner. You would likely never be able to consume enough ALA to get the EPA and DHA that your body needs for health and wellness.
Nutritionists and Health Professionals agree that there are many proven health benefits of Omega-3s. From fetal development to young adulthood to old age, research suggests that EPA and DHA are essential to your health, and your sense of well-being, at all stages of your life. Whether you are concerned about your own health, or the health of your loved ones, you should learn about the health benefits of Omega-3s. This learning will help you to become a more informed consumer. It will also help you to understand why eating a well-balanced diet, rich in foods containing EPA and DHA, is essential to your health and the health of your family.
Good fats, such as Omega-3s, are necessary for your overall health. Specifically, research indicates that EPA and DHA may be associated with reduced risk of:
Coronary heart disease
Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, depression and other disturbances
Diabetes
Inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.
Degeneration of body organs such as the brain, eyes, and kidney
Additionally, DHA is physiologically essential for healthy functioning of the brain, eyes, nervous system, and kidneys.
Nutritionists and health professionals have come to recognize the importance of Omega-3 fatty acids to your overall health. However, the majority of people do not consume enough Omega-3s in their diet to achieve the optimum health benefits. Specifically, EPA and DHA have been identified as being severely lacking in the Western diet. Because EPA and DHA are critical to good health and they cannot be efficiently manufactured by the body, they must be obtained by consuming at least two servings of fatty fish per week. If you are not consuming at least two to three servings of fatty fish per week then your body is likely not getting its recommended intake of Omega-3 fatty acids (if you have coronary heart disease you should be consuming at least five to seven servings of fatty fish per week).
Omega-3s have been receiving a great deal of coverage in all forms of media in recent years. So much so that it is sometimes difficult to tell fact from fiction. What are the facts about Omega-3s and what are the myths that surround them? You don’t need to become an expert about Omega-3s but you should become informed. Information is power and you owe it to yourself to learn more about Omega-3s so that you, and your loved ones, can live healthier, longer lives.
The health impact of good fats and bad fats can be easily summarized. You need good fat, but only in small amounts, and you should restrict bad fats whenever possible. Make the choice to be an informed consumer and you will be making the choice to live a healthier lifestyle.