Omega 3 - Why Its Good For You
Omega-3 fatty acids (also known as n-3 fatty acids) are chemical compounds that naturally occur in some fats and oils. As one of the "essential" fatty acids, Omega-3 oils are required for normal growth, but they also provide a wealth of other benefits.
The positive effects of Omega 3 oils include: including reducing the risk of thrombotic stroke and heart disease, reducing cholesterol, improving immune system activity, and stimulating blood circulation as well as reducing blood pressure. Omega 3 oils are also connected to positive effects in schizophrenia treatment and has been considered "brain food" for many year.
Fish oil is the most popular source of Omega 3 oil. Other sources include eggs and walnuts. Fish from cold- water contains more omega 3 oil seven times more than the other types of fish. Cold-water fish rich in omega 3 oil include mackerel, sardines, anchovies, salmon and herring. Tuna also have omega 3 oils although to a lesser degree.
While the health benefits of consuming omega 3 oils through fish are well documented, the Food and Drug Administration has recently shown concern about heavy metal poisoning in oily fish used to produce omega-3 oils. Arsenic, lead, nickel, mercury, and cadmium are all dangerous heavy metals that may accumulate in cold-water fish. That's why your source of fish or omega 3 oils is vitally important.
One of the wonderful health benefits of omega-3 fish oils is migraine relief. As mentioned above, one of the effects of omega-3 fatty acids is to reduce blood pressure, which increases blood circulation. According to the vascular theory of migraine headaches, reduced flow of blood in the brain is a trigger event for extreme dilation of blood vessels, leading to leakage and inflammation, which causes the pain associated with headaches. Consumption of omega-3 oils has been linked to reducing the risk of this trigger event by improving blood flow.
The heart benefits by taking omega-3 oils, which increases the circulation in your body. If you take omega-3 oils on a regular basis, you can lower the risk of heart attack by reducing blood triglyceride levels in your body. A compound know as fibrin is broken down by omega-3 oils. This is important because this reduces the risk of clotting that may lead to a stroke or infarction.
Although flaxseed oil, eggs and walnuts are also source of omega 3 oils, fish is the most potent one. Salmon, sardines, tuna and anchovies have the highest omega 3 concentration - up to seven times more than other kinds of fish. A reduction in blood pressure and a consequent improvement in circulation of the blood is one of the many effects of this oil. This may explain the migraine relief effects of this oil, since the pain experienced by headache sufferers is caused by dilation of blood vessels, which is triggered by reduced blood flow in the brain.
Published May 24th, 2008
Filed in Travel
