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Benefits of Omega Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids:

• May help fight depression
• Are involved in the development of the brain, while the embryo is still in the womb. In a study supervised by doctors, the babies of mothers who took an omega-3 supplement during pregnancy scored higher in ‘baby IQ tests’. If you are pregnant and want to take supplements please consult doctor first.
• Population studies have found that people in countries with a diet high in oily fish tend to suffer less from dementia in old age.
• Children with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) have been found to have lower levels of omega-3s in their bodies, and exciting evidence is emerging that supplementing their diets with omega-3s can help control their condition.

ESSENTIALS OMEGAS

The omega fatty acids are a group of polyunsaturated fats with an amazing range of health benefits – and not just for your mind.

Omega – 3 fatty acids

These beneficial fats are good for your cholesterol score-they lower the level of ‘bad LDL cholesterol’ in the blood, reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease (heart disease and stroke). There is also a ‘good’ kind of cholesterol (called HDL) that helps prevent cardiovascular disease, and omega-3s raise level of this. They also help lower your blood pressure.

These fantastic fats also have anti-inflammatory effect, and scientific studies suggest that they may be helpful in treating and preventing inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

The best sources of omega-3s are fish, such as mackerel, salmon, sardines and herring. Canned oily fish is a good source, except for tuna, as the omega-3s in tuna are lost during the canning process.

They are also found in flaxseeds (linseeds) but the omega-3s from this vegetarian source are less easy for the body to use. For optimum heath, we should eat four portions of oily fish each week (though pregnant women should limit this to two).

Omega-6 fatty acids

These beneficial fats have similar health effects to omega-3s have slightly greater health benefits. Exciting new research has shown promising results for omega-6s improving skin conditions such as eczema, and in helping to reduce the risk of type-2 diabetes.

They are found in nuts and seeds, as well as some vegetable oil-corn oil, sunflower oil.

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