The Benefits Of Omega-3
Omega-3 fatty acids provide a myriad of benefits when consumed with adequacy in the diet. In this short clip, Dr. John Spencer Ellis goes over how adding more omega-3s can help you with cholesterol, blood clotting, reduction of inflammation, and much more!
-
Step 1:
-
What is Omega-3?
-
Hi I’m John Spencer Ellis, today I’d like to talk to you about omega-3. Omega-3 fatty acids play an important role in keeping your heart, kidneys and digestive system healthy. The body needs Omega-3 fatty acids to make prostaglandins. That regulates blood clotting, hormone production and inflammation in the body.
-
Step 2:
-
Where can I get Omega-3?
-
There are three types of Omega-3 fatty acids. DHA and EPA are found in fish oil and Alpha-linolenic acid or ALA, is found in plants, such as nuts, seeds and even vegetable oils, especially flaccid oil. Many studies have conclusively shown that getting enough DHA and EPA, those are the ones in fish, through diet and supplementation protects against cardiovascular disease by lowering the level of tryglicerides, that’s fat in the blood, while raising the levels of HDL, that’s the good cholesterol. Omega-3 fatty acids can help prevent the build up of cholesterol that could clog the arteries and lead to heart attack and stroke.
-
Step 3:
-
Health benefits of Omega-3
-
It also helps keep blood platelets from becoming sticky and clumping together to form blood clots. Omega-3 supplements may also help ease the pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis. Studies have shown that symptoms such as morning stiffness and joint tenderness decrease after just 3 months of regular fish oil supplementation. Omega-3 was also reported to enhance the benefits of anti-inflammatory medication such Ibuprofen and Aspirin. Fish oil may also help fight cancer by slowing tumor growth. One study showed that eating just two servings of fish each week may lessen your chance of developing colorectal cancer and cancers of the digestive tract by 50%. Fish oil supplements have aslo been used to treat asthma, bipolar disorder, cancer, depression, dysmenorrhea, that is painful menstruation, eczema, lupus, cirrhosis, schizophrenia, stroke, colitis and for the prevention of organ transplant rejection in skin graft rejection.
-
Step 4:
-
How much Omega-3?
-
There is no recommended daily allowance or RDA for Omega-3 fatty acids, but you should try to get one gram a day. Nutritionists generally recommend eating cold-water fish, 2-3 times a week. The oilier the fish, the more Omega-3 it has, cod, tuna, salmon, halibut, shark, mackerel, herring, blue fish, shrimp, flounder and swordfish, all provide good amounts of these acids. Its best to steam, bake or broil your fish, since frying destroys the oils.
-
Step 5:
-
Improve your health
-
So, what do you say? Will you increase your omega-3 intake? I personally eat cold-water fish four times a week. I eat flacks and take omega-3 supplements as well. It’s just too easy to improve your health. Make sure you visit me online at JohnSpencerEllis.com for more information. Thanks and be well.