5 Benefits of Omega 3

For the last 30 years, fat had been considered a bad word in the area of human health. Because some fats can be the cause of health diseases. Although fatty acids like omega 3 are needed in almost every function of the body.

Fats are used to produce energy, working closely with carbohydrates, in this article 3 Macros Your Body Needs Most you can find more information about it. Also fat is part of cell membranes, which means that omega 3 is needed for the cells in your body to work.

The important factor to consider about the fats you consume is always pay attention to the origin and quality of these products. Omega 3 for example you can find in seeds such as Chia, to improve the benefits of this product it should be organic. 

Essential fatty acids like omega-3 and omega-6 are long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Scientists named these nutrients as “essential, which means they can’t be made in the human body and they have to be obtained by the diet.

Vital Roles of Omega 3

Omega 3 is an essential fatty acid vital for many functions in the human body. Important for simple functions like the digestive system, skin health, and your organs function. There are only two essential fatty acids naturally found in food:

1. Linolenic acid or LA – this omega-6 fatty acid is found in commercial seed and vegetable oils, and certain nuts and seeds.

2. Alpha Linolenic acid (ALA) – this omega-3 fatty acid is found in animal organs, wild fatty fish, egg yolks from pastured animals, macadamia nuts, chia seeds, and flaxseed oil.

“Omega 3 regulates the way that cells speak to each other”.

Three types of omega 3 are EPA, DHA, and AA, which are important for your health.

• EPA - scientific name is Eicosapentanoic Acid, it has a powerful anti-inflammatory in the body that helps reduce the blood “stickiness”. Also, have neurochemical signalling in the brain.
• DHA - scientific name is Decosahexanoi Acid, it is incorporated into the fatty structure of the brain called phospholipids. Being important for the nervous system as well.
• AA - scientific name is Arachidonic Acid, contributes to eye health and it makes up a significant amount of the brain lipid structure. 

5 Benefits of Omega 3 

1 - Promote Brain Health

Omega3 is vital for normal brain function and development. The fatty acids EPA and DHA are critical for normal brain activity and development throughout all stages of life.

EPA and DHA seem to have important roles in the developing baby’s brain. So, pregnant women are recommended to improve fish intake or fish oil to promote brain health in both of them. These elements are abundant in the cell membranes of brain cells, facilitating the communication between brain cells 

Lower levels of omega in the blood have been associated with smaller brain size, may accelerate brain ageing and contribute to deficits in the brain.

It is important to make sure you get enough omega 3 fatty acids to avoid some of these detrimental effects on brain function and development.

2 - Improve Eye Health

An omega 3 fatty acid called DHA is a major structural component of your eyes’ retinas. It may help prevent macular degeneration, which can cause vision impairment and blindness.

"DHA is the primary structural fatty acid of the grey matter of the brain and the retina," explains Dr. Bajart. "So it makes sense that a DHA supplement, or a diet rich in DHA, may help slow the degeneration of the retina, including macular degeneration, the most common form of blindness in older people". Font Harvard Health Publishing. 

3 - Can Fight with Inflammation

Chronic inflammation can damage arteries, organs and joints in the body. It might contribute to health problems such as heart diseases, cancer, blood vessel disease, diabetes, obesity, Alzheimer's disease and other conditions. 

Omega 3 can reduce the productions of the molecules and substances linked to body inflammation. Due to the increasing concentration of the special molecule "mediators" that regulate the work of certain components in the blood.

4 - Can Fight with Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune disease happens when your immune system starts to use foreign cells that are in your body. For example, Diabetes type 1 is developed when your immune system starts to attack the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas. 

Omega 3 fatty acids can help your body to fight against lots of autoimmune diseases like diabetes type 1, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and psoriasis. 

Some research shows that getting enough omega 3 in your first year of life may reduce the risk of autoimmune conditions.

5 - Improve Mental Disorders

Studies have shown that people with mental disorders have lower levels of omega 3 in the blood. 

So increasing the intake of this oil can reduce the frequency of mood swings and relapses in people with both schizophrenia and bipolar disorders.

Remember to increase the source of healthy fatty acids from oily fish, nuts, seeds, and cold-pressed oils. Also, eat pulse-based meals twice a week to reduce the dependency on saturated fats from meat. Deep-fried food from takeaways includes large quantities of trans-fats, which is not good for your health.

Omega 3 fatty acids are essential for vital health. If you don’t have enough food which is rich in omega 3 it is necessary to supplement omega 3 daily. But always before supplementing any nutrient it is important to do a blood test to know the amount you should supplement.

I am Simone Holz a Nutrition and Health Coach, who is helping people to improve eating habits, having a balanced diet using all food sources available. Encouraging clients to get into a routine of exercise, enhances sleep patterns, using mindfulness techniques that will manage a lot of factors in their life that will promote a healthy lifestyle.

 If you want to improve your lifestyle and don’t know how to start the process. I’m here to help and guide you on this journey.

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