Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids


by Jessica Cander - Date: 2007-01-08 - Word Count: 517 Share This!

Omega 3 is one of the most talked about nutrients of the moment, for good reason: it is highly depleted in our diets. Omega 3 is an essential fatty acid for human growth and development. It must be supplied in the diet, since the body cannot manufacture it or at least cannot do so in sufficient quantities for optimum health.

Omega 3 is contained in fish oils. The best source is oily fish, but research has shown that only one-third of the population consumes nearly enough of this. The most effective source of Omega 3 is in oily cold-water fish, for example salmon, cod and tuna. It is also located in foods like Canola oil, walnuts, flaxseeds, hempseeds, mackerel, trout, sardines, and herring.

Today, Omega 3 is frequently featured in the media, so anyone who takes an interest in healthy eating should have heard about it. The glowing reports one hears about Omega 3 are backed up by a great deal of scientific study. There seems to be a vast amount of proof of the health benefits of fish oils and supplements containing Omega 3.

Omega 3 is essential for all the body cells as a building block for the cell membrane. The requirement for Omega 3 increases significantly during the last trimester of pregnancy as it is needed for the development of a baby's brain and eyes. That's how important it is! The benefit of the Omega 3 has also been seen in the performance of schoolchildren. It's sad but true that often children in Western societies are found to be overfed but undernourished. They may have a deficiency of Omega 3 which is even more serious than that of their parents. Fish oil with Omega 3 is thought to lessen the often frustrating effects of ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder).

Omega 3 is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, nourishing the skin and giving it a fresh new radiance and glow. If the Omega 3 in the diet is insufficient, then the Omega 3 in the membranes will be low. This increases the risk of insulin resistance. This relative deficiency in Omega 3 is believed by many to be one of the major reasons for the escalating levels of degenerative disease experienced in the Western world.

Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) Omega 3 is believed to be an essential nutrient for the maintenance of good health and normal growth and development. Because Omega 3 is such an essential component in the diet, the FDA recommends the consumption of 3 or more servings of fish per week. But what if you really can't stand fish or just never seem to get enough of it in any given week? That is certainly the case for many of us. In this case supplements containing Omega 3 are among the most beneficial money can buy.

Yes, food fads come and go, and every week there seems to be some new wonder-food or vitamin we should be taking. Having said that, it seems that Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids are no fad. This is a genuinely useful scientific discovery which should enhance human (and animal) health for centuries to come.


Related Tags: health, heart, cholesterol, omega 3, fatty acids, fish oil

Jessica Cander is a professional freelance medical writer who contributes to a wide variety of medical and health related web sites, including the Good Nutrition web site, where she just finished an information page about Lipistat. Lipistat is a new supplement containing plant sterols, oat bran, vitamin E, vitamin B6 and Omega-3 Fatty Acids, aimed at maintaining normal cholesterol levels and supporting healthy heart function.

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