Essential Omega 3 Fatty Acids Benefits From Fish Oil and Other Rich Sources (EPA/DHA)
by Regev Elya • March 17, 2011 • Nutrition • 0 Comments
Many people I know believe that fish play an essential role of the human diet. Because of the minerals, proteins, polyunsaturated fats and vitamins that it contains, and more importantly, their content of Omega 3 essential fatty acids, fish are considered to be vital for a person’s growth and healthy living. The sad truth today is that fish also contains a lot of heavy metals (most notoriously – mercury) and toxins, which are disastrous for our health. Sadly, oceans are very polluted in the world we live in, and our food suffers a direct impact from that. Next..
What Are The Major Omega-3 Sources Out There ?
Omega 3 are polyunsaturated fatty acids that are obtained from fish oil found in oily fishes like salmon, tuna and mackerel, and also from plant sources like flaxseed and walnuts. These Omega 3 fatty acids have been proven to be beneficial both for children and adults. Important to know, what’s important is to keep the Omega 3 : Omega 6 ratio at 1:4 or even below. Most people today have a ratio of 1:50 and above, which is very dangerous.
Other sources of omega 3 fatty acids are avocado, and even properly raised organic chickens and eggs. From the knowledge I managed to obtain, seems like any properly raised animal contains some Omega-3 to some extent, although nothing to count of as a rich source. Fish used to be the main source of omega-3 for many cultures around the world.
The situation today is very tough in the west with the high pollution though, so must be careful with this. When I lived in a small village by the ocean in the Philippines for a few months, that was a real omega-3 heaven. The locals used to fish for Tunas and Blue Marlins every day. Fish were fresh and non-industrious. I wish the situation remained the same in the western world. Anyway…

Omega-3 fat acids pills from fish
Any Benefits of Omega 3 ?
Omega 3 fatty acids are good for the heart. They have been found to aid in prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Results of studies suggest that these fatty acids can help protect people against stroke due to plaque build-up and blood clots in the arteries leading to brain. People with heart disease are less likely to have heart attacks if they have sufficient amount of Omega 3 reserves in their blood vessels.
Omega 3 benefits have also been discovered not only for those who have health problems but also for pregnant women and unborn children. Pregnant women getting Omega 3 in their diet can have lower chance of experiencing preeclampsia, preterm labor and reduce risk of developing breast cancer. Effects of Omega 3 to the unborn child include good development of brain and nervous system, better eyesight and better sleeping pattern after birth. Researchers have shown that 70 percent of a new born baby is composed of Omega 3 fatty acids particularly, DHA and EPA. Thus, including these fatty acids in the mother’s diet is beneficial to aid in healthy child development.
Omega 3 is an essential component of children’s brain as well. Deficiency of this nutrient may lead to mental certain disorders like schizophrenia. People characterized with such disorder have difficulty in distinguishing the real and unreal experiences. Moreover, Omega 3 can help children to cope with learning demands. It is beneficial for children who could not focus in a certain object or situation. It is also found to help prevent bipolar disorders and even depression. The mechanism for the Omega 3 benefits to mental health is due to its effect in helping maintain the level of dopamine and serotonin that believed to be associated with the occurrence of these brain disorders.
It has been presented here that Omega 3 fatty acid is recommended not only to those who have serious health issues, but any person of any age or any gender, from pregnant women to the unborn, and from children to adult will all benefit from these fatty acids, and in fact MUST include them in our diet, as they are necessary for a proper functioning of our body.
Did You Know ?
Usually, omega-3 rich fish are also very rich sources of vitamin B12. Interesting enough, both of these nutrients have been found to have a very high impact on the functioning of the brain and nerve cells.
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