To Fish or Flax: Discover the Benefits of Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Jennifer — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 16:51:48 +0000

(ARA) – More and more Americans are reaping the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids. These good fatty acids are naturally found in fish and seeds, and are increasingly being added into food products like eggs, margarine and even cereal. For people like Barry Edwards, 58, who wish to add omega-3 fatty acids into their daily diet without the added fat and calories found in many enhanced products, fish oil and flaxseed oil supplements are a convenient solution that provide the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids.

â€œMy wife suggested I start taking fish oil supplements as a preventative measure to maintain my overall health, particularly heart health. It seemed to be a minor lifestyle adjustment at the time, but I believe this, along with healthy eating and regular exercise, has helped to keep me in great shape. My last fitness test concluded that Iâ€™m as physically fit as someone much younger than me!â€ says Edwards.

Omega-3 fatty acids truly pack a nutritional punch. Registered dietitian and Nature Made Consumer Education Specialist Rachel Agnew comments, â€œMany studies find omega-3 fatty acids support brain and heart health and the bodyâ€™s natural inflammatory response. Itâ€™s an ideal supplement for anyone looking to maintain overall health.â€ Agnew offers her list of those who should add omega-3 fatty acids into a well-balanced diet:

* Most Americans — Everyone should work to improve their heart health through a healthy diet and exercise. The AHA recommends at least two servings of fatty fish a week to help maintain heart health.

* Vegetarians — Non-meat eaters may not consume enough omega-3 fatty acids, but a flaxseed oil supplement can help.

* Picky Eaters — For those who may not like the taste of fish, Nature Made also offers odorless fish oil as a great way to incorporate omega-3 fatty acids into a daily diet.

* Brainiacs — Studies suggest that eating fish at least once a week can help maintain brain health and slow the toll of aging on the brain.

* Soon-To-Be Mothers — Experts are finding that mothers who consume omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy can help in the neurological development of their children. Consult your doctor before beginning a new health regimen.

For more information on the benefits of fish oil or flaxseed oil, visit the Nature Made Wellness Advisor at www.NatureMade.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

Good things come in omega-3s

Jennifer — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 19:57:18 +0000

Rarely does a week go by without another study praising the cardiovascular, developmental and other health benefits of omega-3s grabbing headlines.So what exactly are omega-3 fatty acids and how can they benefit your health? According to registered dietitian Andrea Holwegner, omega-3 fatty acids are a type of “essential fat” that must be consumed from food since your body is unable to produce them.

Omega-3s have been linked to a significant variety of health benefits throughout the life cycle – from brain, eye and nervous system development in fetuses and infants and maintenance of cognitive function in the elderly, to their anti-inflammatory effect on people with disorders like macular degeneration, rheumatoid arthritis and several cancers. On the heart-health front, these fats reduce levels of the artery-clogging blood fat, triglycerides. Omega-3 fatty acids also help decrease the “stickiness” of blood, thus lowering the risk of blood clots that can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

Most recently, a study by the Harvard School of Public Health, considered the most comprehensive of its kind, concluded that the consumption of one to two servings of fish per week reduces the risk of death from coronary heart disease by 36 per cent and death from any health-related cause by 17 per cent.

“The best source of omega-3 fatty acids can be found in fatty cold-water fish such as salmon, herring, mackerel and sardines,” says Andrea, who counsels her clients to eat seafood at least twice a week.

In addition to seafood, omega-3 fatty acids are also found in plant-based foods such as flaxseeds, walnuts and soybean oil and canola oil. However it’s important to keep in mind that not all omega-3s are created equal.

“While all types of omega-3 fatty acids offer health benefits, research suggests that the most reliable form is found exclusively in fish and fish oils,” says Andrea. “This is because seafood contains the EPA and DHA forms of omega-3s, which are easier for the body to process than the ALA form of omega-3s found in plant-based foods.”

Omega-3 fatty acids, found in seafood such as canned tuna and salmon, mackerel, herring and sardines can offer important health benefits:

. Lower blood pressure and cholesterol.

. Decrease the risk of heart disease, stroke and blood clots.

. Reduce the risk of macular degeneration, the leading cause of age-related vision loss in Canada.

. Aid in fetal and infant brain, eye and nervous system development.

. Help alleviate the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, Crohn’s disease and other inflammatory diseases.

. Protect against certain cancers such as breast, colon and prostate.

Omega-3 fatty acids are also essential during pregnancy and lactation, helping the brain of the fetus develop and thrive. Omega-3 consumption during pregnancy has been positively linked to:

. Fetal brain development

. Fetal retinal development

. Fetal/maternal full-term delivery

. Maternal cardiac health

. Reduction in maternal stroke risk

. Reduction in maternal post-partum depression.

Credit: www.newscanada.com

Natural Health » Omega-3s

To Fish or Flax: Discover the Benefits of Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Good things come in omega-3s