Omega 3 fatty acids are essential to human health. You can only get these fats through your diet. They have an important role in the function of the brain, are essential components of the photo receptors in the eye and cell membranes. http://www.fi.edu/learn/brain/fats.html They are known to reduce inflammation and help prevent conditions associated with heart disease, cancer, and arthritis. Dietary practices found in the United States do not have the proper ratio of omega 3 to omega 6 ratio, whereas diets in the Mediterranean and Japan do. http://www.baylorhealth.edu/proceedings/13_4/13_4_rosenthal.html A healthy diet should have 1/2 to 1/4 omega 3 to omega 6 fatty acid intake. In the United States, this ratio averages well below 1/10. http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/omega-3-000316.htm
Omega 6 fatty acids are abundant in meats. A diet that has too much meat skews the ration of omega 3 to omega 6 ratio in the wrong direction for health and prevention of inflammation, a condition that is associated with too much omega 6 intake. On the other hand, health improvement for a variety of conditions (listed below) is seen if you eat a diet similar to the Mediterranean Diet, which excludes meat and includes fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, garlic, olive oil, and some wine. http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/omega-3-000316.htm Other sources of omega 3 fatty acids include oils from canola, flaxseed, walnut, soybean and mustard. Two of the top sources are flaxseed oil and English walnuts. http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/othernuts/omega3fa/
Find on this site a list of maladies that can benefit though proper intake of omega 3 fatty acids, a fast facts section and a featured video that further discusses the benefits of proper omega 3 nutrition. Find also related links, news and blog sections for the latest information.
Conditions Which Improve With Proper Omega 3 Fatty Acid Intake
- Asthma
- Burns
- Cancer, reduced colon, breast and prostate
- Diabetes, Type 2
- Eating disorders
- Heart disease
- High Blood Pressure
- High cholesterol
- Joint pain associated with inflammatory bowel disease or dysmenorrhea
- Macular degeneration
- Mental conditions: depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, attention deficit disorder
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Weight loss http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/omega-3-000316.htm
Benefits of Omega 3 Fatty Acids
A medical student shares scientific evidence on the health benefits of dietary intake of omega 3 fatty acids. Disease conditions which are reduced with adequate intake of this fatty acid include, less heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, schizophenria, and symptoms of depression, and other conditions. This is a good and quick presentation.
References
Fast Facts
-
'''Fish Sources'''
Tuna, salmon, mackerel, trout, halibut, herring, sardines
-
'''Plant Sources'''
Algae, krill, flaxseed, purslane, nut oils; all of these have to be converted in the body to different forms, some people do not have that ability
-
'''Recommended frequency of Fish in Diet'''
At least twice a week
-
'''Types of Omega 3 Fatty Acids'''
Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
-
'''Symptoms of deficiency'''
Fatigue, failing memory, dry skin, heart problems, mood swings or depression, and poor circulation.
-
'''Some of the physiological effects''''
Lowers triglycerides, raises HDL
