Omega 3 fatty acids may appear like some huge scary term scientists discuss, but it s actually very simple. They re nutrients, like proteins and carbs and the like. The name Omega 3 comes from the shape and type of the molecules that make it up. Like other nutrients, we obtain them from the food that we consume. Fish is generally where we can get {a great deal|most|much of} our Omega 3 needs; or perhaps I should say, where we don t get our needs. See, most people don t buy enough fish to get the necessary Omega 3s. Most often, people generally get their Omega 3 fatty acids from fish oil capsules.
I realize that many people might think fatty acids and jump to assume that it s detrimental for your health, but that s not true. In the 70s, scientists studying the Intuit people in Greenland discovered that even if they took in large amounts of fatty acids from the seafood they consumed, they had extremely low incidents of heart disease. The United States FDA finally recognized the connection between good fatty acids and heart health back in 2004, giving a qualified health claim status to good fatty acids like Omega 3s.
So what makes these Omega 3s so significant? Well, Omega 3s are a type of essential fatty acid, or EFA. EFAs are essential to our bodies to function effectively. That s the reason they re labeled essential fatty acids and not optional fatty acids. If we don t get enough of these EFAs, we run the risk of heart disease, arthritis, and numerous other chronic ailments. Some research has also demonstrated that a lack of EFAs could cause depression and weight gain. EFAs also support brain function and development, especially in kids. You recall how people say fish is brain food? They re speaking about the essential fatty acids in fish.
There are a few types of EFAs, however. You have the Omega 3s which you find mostly in fish, and the Omega 6s which can be prevalent in vegetable oils. Anti inflammatory Omega 3s keep the inflammatory Omega 6s balanced. The perfect ratio is 1:2, but most diets usually lead to a gross imbalance, with a large number of Americans getting a ratio of one Omega 3 per twenty Omega 6s!. This leads to a condition called silent inflammation. There are no symptoms for this until it s too late and several diseases start affecting your body, so it s better to make sure you re getting adequate Omega 3s in your diet. This is where fish oils really help.
There are several types of Omega 3 acids too. There are DHA, EPA and ALA. Vegetarians generally consume ALAs which are prevalent in flax seed oil. Your body can only make use of EPA and DHA, and only converts a very small amount of these ALAs into EPA and DHAs though. Whatever is left turns inflammatory. You re much better off with the EPAs and DHAs found in fish oil supplements. You re most likely getting more than you need of the inflammatory fatty acids as is.
Like I mentioned before, most people don t consume adequate fish to get a necessary amount of Omega 3 fatty acids. This is because our diets have become so that we don t really eat much fish anymore. In addition, we re going to have to eat a large quantity of fish to get the quantity of Omega 3s we require. Not to mention the risk of toxins in the fish. With modern pollution, you can never be sure. Fish oil supplements are a much better alternative over consuming a huge amount of fish. They re easy to come by, and with modern technology, the risk of contamination in fish oil supplements are extremely minimal. That is, assuming you buy a high quality brand. It will be more expensive than the numerous generic products available, but you pay a premium for peace of mind.
Consuming a sufficient quantity of Omega 3s is highly beneficial to our good health. With the availability of quality omega 3 products, it has never been simpler to get your daily dose of Omega 3 fatty acids.
Author Resource:-
Brittany Q. Wallace is a nutrition expert, with over a decade of experience and particular expertise with omega-3 fish oil. Visit her site here: http://www.fishoilblog.com/
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