Fish Oil (Omega 3) – Do you really need it?

Today more than ever, we have scientific proof of what we need to do and what we need to avoid in order to lead healthier lives and hopefully live to a ripe old age.

Of course we don’t know when our time is up, but it makes sense to try to assist in our longevity, rather than speed up our exit date.

There is so much “rubbish” that many of us consume on a daily basis that we are in fact attributing to the deterioration of our bodies much more rapidly than our ancestors.   Their diets were not rich in fat, salt and sugar to the extent of ours today.  Yes they ate lard on their bread, and cakes and biscuits and high fat milk, cheese and butter etc., however they were a lot more active that we are in the new millennium.  If you dispute that fact, then why do we westerners take out the prize for the most obese nations in the world? 

Along with a healthier diet, we also need to look after ourselves and learn more about what we can do to become healthier.  We owe it to our children and grandchildren.

One such component of our health is fatty oils.  Omega 3 and omega 6 essential fatty acids should be part of everyone’s diet.

Omega 3 (alpha-linolenic) and omega 6 (linolenic acid) are essential in the body to maintain cellular membranes, to replace brain cells, absorb certain fat-soluble vitamins and as a source of energy too.   Omega 3 and Omega 6 are both considered as essential fats – for our health and well being.  We can live without saturated fats but not without omega 3 and 6. 

Saturated fats are contained in many fast foods, which in our western world diet are over consumed. 

Omega 3 and Omega 6 are polyunsaturated fatty acids, they are essential to the body, but not produced by the body, chemically they are structured differently.  

What do they do and why are they so vital?

Omega three is excellent as an anti inflammatory, anti depressants, they help in heart disease reduction, they reduce inflammation and joint swelling associated with arthritis and even healthy eye and brain function – with that list you can see why they are absolutely vital to our wellbeing and why perhaps these particular ailments and diseases have and continue to sky rocket in our society today. 

Omega six is vital for healthy skin and lowering cholesterol – another huge reason to get these two fatty oils in check.

Medical studies have proven that the there are links between many well known illnesses and a decline in Omega 3 consumption.

Correct balances of the two will protect us against heart attack, stroke, and artery disease (too much fat in the bloodstream).

As many as 8 in 10 people are deficient in both fats and others have an imbalance.  It is essential that we must get the right balance of approx 1:3 – many people have much higher levers, as high as 1:20, which is way over the recommended levels. No wonder we feel ordinary!

A typical diet of meat and potatoes produces a diet rich in omega 6 and virtually no omega 3.  So getting the necessary amounts of omega 6 seems relatively easy, however it’s the omega 3 that we need to have in our diet to get the right balance too.

Omega 3 represents 30% of our brains matter and interestingly the highest amounts of omega 3 are found in the retina. 

Diet or supplements are the way to get the right balances of omega 3.   Foods to consider eating to restore the imbalance are oily fish such as tuna, mackerel, salmon.  Olive oil, and garlic are also good sources. 

What do you do if you don’t like oily fish? 

Fortunately you are in luck and still able to reap the benefits of omega 3 without having to consume the fish itself.

Fish oil supplements are rich in omega 3, they have high amounts of DHA (minimum of 250mg of DHA per 1000mg capsule); DHA is the main source of the benefits.

There are a range of omega 3 supplements that are excellent in quality and will assist you in reaching the recommended daily intakes of omega 3, without you having to count and measure.  Additionally they no longer have the fishy after taste, and are all available on this site.

Included in many of the supplements are a number of additional health benefits to assist you with:

·         a healthier heart

·         maintaining healthy triglyceride levels for cardiovascular health

·         joint inflammation reduction to increase joint mobility for arthritis sufferers

·         Cognitive function improvement – increase attention, mood lifters, increased learning ability and concentration, memory and problem solving

·         Blood circulation

·         Minor skin condition relief, can assist in improving eczema and dry skin

·         Healthier vision

With a list such as the one above, there should be no argument as to why it is imperative for your personal health to incorporate omega 3 into your daily diet.

Many of the supplements conveniently combine omega 3 with other formulations so you are not taking numerous supplements thus making it simpler and easier, especially for those who are required to take other medications.  It is advised of course, that you consult your doctor if you are taking other medications before you begin taking any additional supplements.

As we continue to grow older these days due to the advancements in our medical fields, it is essential that we grow older with our cognitive and mobility functions in the highest working order possible.  What good is it growing older if we are not able to live  with a good quality of life?

There is nothing difficult about taking a simple supplement and it can assist our development as we grow older and perhaps keep many of the ailments and diseases at bay and allow us to age gracefully and enjoy our lives as we are or have done in our younger years.

Omega 3 supplements could just be what the doctor ordered to keep us active and enjoying life as we grow closer to our twilight years.

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