What is it about Omega oils?
Omega-essential fatty acids are essential for human health. Every single cell in your body needs these good fats to work optimally.
Fish oil is a plentiful source of omega-3 fats, particularly EPA (eicosapentanoic acid) and DHA (docosahexanoic acid) which have many therapeutic benefits in your body. You can also obtain omega-3 from a variety of dietary sources; however the majority of people may not be able to effectively convert these fats into EPA and DHA. Some factors that may reduce this conversion include
- diets high in sugar, alcohol and processed foods
- smoking
- pollution
- stress and ageing
- viral infections and other illnesses
It is well known how important fish oil is in the long term management of joint pain and arthritis, but did you realise there is extensive research demonstrating the benefits of EPA and DHA for a wide range of health conditions including:
- cardiovascular health
- high blood pressure
- elevated triglycerides
- high cholesterol
- coronary heart disease
- brain development and cognitive functioning
- in pregnancy to support neural development in infants
- children’s growth and development
- Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and age-related cognitive decline
- mood disorders – depression, bipolar disorder.
Sources of Omega3 fatty acids in the diet
Whilst you are taking a high quality fish oil supplement, it is also beneficial to include foods high in good fats as part of a balanced diet:
- oily deep sea fish e.g. salmon, tuna
- nuts and seeds especially walnuts and flaxseeds / linseeds
- avocados
- beans e.g. soybeans, navy beans and kidney beans