Juliet Cohen

Guide To Omega 3 Benefits

The benefits of omega-3 fatty acids in cardiovascular disease are so well demonstrated. Omega-3 fatty acids are long-chained, polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Omega 3 benefits work like magic. They help you look and feel fantastic and protect you from a long list of diseases. Omega-3 fatty acids are important building blocks of our cell membranes, signaling pathways and neurological systems. They play a critical role in many functions in the body and are essential for good health. These health effects were noted at first by studying the Inuit Indians, which ate a diet of marine and fish wildlife and had a significantly reduced risk of heart disease.

Fatty acids are the building blocks of triglycerides and other lipids. They are usually composed of a long chain of unbranched carbon atoms with a carboxyl group at one end. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are important because our bodies do not have the enzymes necessary to create double bonds after the 10th carbon from the carboxyl group. Thus, linoleic and linolenic fatty acids are essential. Alpha linolenic acid (ALA) is the only essential omega-3 fatty acid because our bodies can convert ALA into others such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

Omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation, omega-6 fatty acids increase inflammation. Omega-3 fatty acids are antithrombotic, omega-6 fatty acids increase blood clotting. Omega-3 fatty acids are non-immunoreactive, omega-6 fatty acids are immunoreactive. Taking omega 3 fish oils while pregnant may also protect babies against developing different types of allergies such as hay fever, sinus infections, asthma, food allergies and allergic skin conditions such as hives and eczema. The Omega 3 essesential fatty acids (EFA's) are polyunsaturated fats or the so-called "good fats". The best Omega 3 sources are animal foods, not plant sources.

Omega 3 oils provide DHA and EPA in a natural form that your body can easily assimilate. No conversion is required by the body. The benefits of using the best fish oils with omega 3 are many and have been documented numerous times. Consuming fish oil is related to lowered risk of developing age related macular degeneration, an increasing common eye disease in people over 50. These supplements generally contain Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil are available as triglycerides or ethyl esters. The preferred form of omega-3 fatty acids is triglycerides from fish oil. It is the most bioavailable form.

Article Tags: Ga-3 Atty, Ga-6 Atty

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