Omega 3 Health Benefits
What is Omega 3 And What Does It Do? Most of us have probably heard of consuming fish oil for heart health, but what is it exactly, and how does it benefit us? This fatty acid oil comes from the tissues of fatty fish. These acids are "good" fats that your body needs in order to function properly. They contribute benefits to your body's need for HDL cholesterol. HDL is the Healthy cholesterol. An easy way to remember the difference between HDL and LDL is that: HDL is "Healthy" cholesterol LDL is "Loser" cholesterol. Lose the LDLs and get healthier by increasing your HDLs. HDL:LDL Ratio: Omega 3 fatty acids are lipid lowering agents. It is important to know that our bodies need both HDLs and LDLs. But, it is the ratio between the two that is important. Lipid lowering agents help to decrease serum triglycerides and lower LDL (bad/loser) cholesterol and increase HDL (good/healthy) cholesterol, thus improving the ratio between the two. HDL (Good) Cholesterol: HDL cholesterol is known as “good” cholesterol, because high levels of HDL seem to protect against heart attack. Low levels of HDL (less than 40 mg/dL) increase the risk of heart disease. Medical researchers believe that HDL tends to carry cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it is excreted from the body. Other researchers believe that HDL slows the buildup of the arterial plaque by removing the excess cholesterol. LDL (Bad) Cholesterol: When too much LDL (bad) cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can slowly build up in the inner walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain. Along with other substances, high levels of LDL can form a thick, hard deposit in your arteries called plaque. Once this plaque begins to form, the arteries narrow, become less flexible and blood flow through them is decreased. This condition is called atherosclerosis. If a clot forms and blocks this already narrowed artery, a heart attack or stroke can result. Our bodies cannot create these fatty oils on its own, so we must consume it to get these important fatty acids that we need. They are very important to the health of our cells, heart, brain and body. Dietary Sources of Omega 3: Dietary sources of these fatty acids include fish oil and some plant and nut oils. Due to this, many health professionals advise that you don't consume too much fish each week. Another alternative to eating fish is in the form of fish oil capsules. These fish oil capsules can give you the fatty acids your body needs. What Are The Health Benefits of Omega 3 Fatty Acids?
This lipid lowering fatty acid helps: 
Where Can I Find It?You can find it in fatty fish such as hoki, salmon,tuna, sardines, and anchovies), but as mentioned above, there are dangers of toxins in the fish oil. However, if you’re taking a natural supplement (pill form) fish oil, the oil has been processed and should be safer for you to take. You can find high quality supplement gel capsules in your local health food store or organic food store. Low quality fish oil supplements will usually simply say "fish oil" or "marine lipids" on the label, making it difficult to determine exactly what is in the supplements. High quality supplements are made from the oils of tuna, salmon, anchovies, and sardines. Possible Allergic Reactions: If you are allergic to fish, check with your doctor before beginning on fish oil supplements. You may need to start off with very low doses of fish oil. If you are allergic to any of these species of fish, you may need to take a vegetarian Omega 3 supplement. Vegetarian Omega 3 supplements give you the same benefits, but are made from algae. Should I Take Fish Oil Supplements? Fish oil has been found to be good for heart health and has many other health benefits. Possible Drug Interactions: If you are taking Beta-blockers, thiazide diuretics or estrogens, Omega 3 fatty acid supplements may increase your triglyceride levels. Anti-Coagulant Properties (loss of blood clotting ability): Fish oil thins your blood so be cautious if you are a hemophiliac or "free bleeder." If you take extremely high doses, you may decrease your body's ability for your blood to clot if you have a cut or injury. Low Blood Pressure: If you are currently taking prescribed beta blockers, alpha blockers or ACE inhibitors to lower your blood pressure, know that fish oil will lower it even more. Check with your doctor. He may want you to take your blood pressure every day if you are taking fish oil capsules or pills. Signs and Symptoms Of Taking Too Much Fish Oil: Bad breath, burping which tastes "fishy", upset stomach, loose stools and acid reflux. If any of these symptoms appear, lower your dosage until they disappear. If you have cuts which take a longer time than normal to stop bleeding, discontinue use, immediately. Recommended Dosage: The recommended dosage of Omega 3 is 2.5 to 4 grams per day. Read the label on your fish oil supplement to see how many capsules you need to take to reach a recommended dosage. If you have high triglyceride levels which you have checked on a regular basis, ask your doctor, first, before beginning a supplementation regimen if you are taking any of the above drugs or if you are pregnant or nursing. Therefore, it is always good to remember that if a little bit is good, a lot is not always better. If you have any medical conditions such as high blood pressure, blood clotting problems, or you are on any prescribed medication, be sure you talk to your doctor before taking Omega 3 fish oil supplements.
You can also find more detailed information about Omega 3, at www.omega-3-fish-oil-wonders.com. Information on this site is provided for informational purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professional.hr Return from Omega 3 to Antioxidants |
