Omega - 3 Fatty Acid - Do You Really Need It?

Posted by admin on October 8, 2008

Prevent depression
Used to treat bipolar disorder
Reduce premature births
Protect baby’s brain
Modulate anger, fear and anxiety
Improve Immunity
Counteract autoimmune diseases
Prevent and treat cancer
Protect the brain
Fight cardiovascular disease
Combat stroke
Prevent and treat arrhythmia (abnormal rhythm of the heart)
Prevent preeclampsia (a condition that occurs only during pregnancy)

What is the scientific evidence behind Omega-3 fatty acids? In studies involving animals, Omega-3 fatty acids were found to prevent ventricular fibrillation (irregular heartbeats) before an experimentally induces heart attack and to stop ventricular fibrillation during an experimentally induced heart attack.

Since ventricular fibrillation is the most important cause of sudden death in most heart attack victims, scientists believe that the use of Omega-3 fatty acids can prevent sudden death. In 1982, a study of more that 20,000 healthy males was followed for 11 years, all data concerning their lifestyles was documented. The study showed that the men who are fish for one or more meals during a week had a 50 percent lower risk of sudden cardiac death than the men who rarely ate fish at all.

In 1976 a Nurse’s Health Study was begun using more than 80,000 nurses, again, all data concerning lifestyles was documented and followed for 16 years to track the development of coronary heart disease.

The end results showed that women who ate fish once a week had 29 percent lower risk of developing coronary heart disease and those who are fish 5 times a week, had a 34 percent lower risk, plus a 45 percent reduction in risk of having a sudden heart attack.

It has been proven that people who follow a Mediterranean diet, which is high in Omega-3 fatty acids had more than a 50 percent reduction in sudden cardiac deaths and followed the same percentages in repeat or nonfatal heart attacks.

Omega-3 fatty acids help fight depression and other mood altering conditions. Some studies have linked Alzheimer’s disease to low Omega-3 fatty acids in the diet. The evidence of studies keeps growing and the value of Omega-3 fatty acids in our diets keeps growing along with it.

It is very important to change the types of fats; we eat to remain healthy and vital. Increasing your intake of Omega-3 fatty acids is great, however, it is important to decrease your consumption of Omega-6 fatty acids, check all the processed foods you eat, most contain Omega-6 fatty acids. Americans are consuming 50 times more Omega-6 fatty acids than are essential for health, while their intake of Omega-3 fatty acids is horribly lacking, it is time for a change and the time is now.