It seems like you can’t open a health food magazine nowadays without reading an article that is extolling the virtues and myriad health benefits of omega 3s. I say: good!
I have long been championing this incredible food element ever since I saw how it helped a very good friend of mine who was suffering from sore joints due to rheumatoid arthritis. She took fish oil religiously and got great respite from her pain due to the presence of the omega 3 in the fish oil tablets.
I have since done a lot of reading on the subject of omega 3s and know that they have been shown to help in all sorts of ways, including helping to reduce inflammation and with heart and brain health. The list of how omega 3s can help would be really long, but I wanted to look at some of the more incredible ways in which omega 3 can help in the body and discuss some of them here.
1. Helps to increase bone density
You may not know that omega 3s have been linked to an increase in bone density with a recent study, but it’s just one more reason to add to the list of the already formidable list of why you should incorporate more omega 3s into your diet! The study demonstrated that people who took more omega 3s had stronger spines and backs than non-omega 3 consumers. Now not only should you be taking plenty of your natural calcium supplements and Vitamin D, but you should be working to increase the amount of omega 3 in your diet.
You may not know that omega 3s have been linked to an increase in bone density with a recent study, but it’s just one more reason to add to the list of the already formidable list of why you should incorporate more omega 3s into your diet! The study demonstrated that people who took more omega 3s had stronger spines and backs than non-omega 3 consumers. Now not only should you be taking plenty of your natural calcium supplements and Vitamin D, but you should be working to increase the amount of omega 3 in your diet.
2. Helps to improve sleep
A recent study that was performed on children’s learning and omega 3s, found that children who had low levels of a type of omega 3 called DHA, performed significantly worse on tests for various learning components like memory, behaviour, concentration, reading and numeracy than kids who had sufficient DHA levels. In addition to this, the researchers found that when they improved DHA levels, this improved the performance of the kids. By expanding on their study, they also found that low DHA levels can lead to poor sleep which would impact on all of the areas of learning.
A recent study that was performed on children’s learning and omega 3s, found that children who had low levels of a type of omega 3 called DHA, performed significantly worse on tests for various learning components like memory, behaviour, concentration, reading and numeracy than kids who had sufficient DHA levels. In addition to this, the researchers found that when they improved DHA levels, this improved the performance of the kids. By expanding on their study, they also found that low DHA levels can lead to poor sleep which would impact on all of the areas of learning.
3. May help with male fertility
A study that was performed on the relationship between omega 3s and acid concentrations in fertile and infertile men, found that fertile men tend to have higher omega 3 levels than infertile men. More research is needed to help bolster these findings, but the results from this human study have echoed results from other studies on rats and guppies – with both studies showing a link.
A study that was performed on the relationship between omega 3s and acid concentrations in fertile and infertile men, found that fertile men tend to have higher omega 3 levels than infertile men. More research is needed to help bolster these findings, but the results from this human study have echoed results from other studies on rats and guppies – with both studies showing a link.
4. May help to protect the aging brain
When a study was performed recently on the impact of omega 3 on the aging brain, it was found that the presence of omega 3 fatty acids works to increase the protection that the brain has against Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. A low amount of omega 3 in the diet is associated with a greater risk of developing age related cognitive decline.
When a study was performed recently on the impact of omega 3 on the aging brain, it was found that the presence of omega 3 fatty acids works to increase the protection that the brain has against Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. A low amount of omega 3 in the diet is associated with a greater risk of developing age related cognitive decline.
Food sources of omega 3
So where do you go to get your omega 3s? You can get it from a variety of sources including:
So where do you go to get your omega 3s? You can get it from a variety of sources including:
* Fish oil tablets and supplements
* Flaxseed oil
* Chia seeds
* Mackerel
* Salmon with bones
* Flaxseed oil
* Chia seeds
* Mackerel
* Salmon with bones
Make sure that you are following a balanced and healthy diet with plenty of variation and you’ll be sure to hit your omega 3 targets without any problems.
