September 14, 2004

Health tip: eat your Omega-3 fatty acids


Omega-3 fatty acids are good for you.

Actually, they are very good for you. Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids found in certain fish tissues. Some people believe that many modern health problems are the result of too little Omega-3's in our diet.

Recent findings indicate that Omega-3's:
- delay Alzheimer's in mice and may lower the risk of dementia in old age
- may act as a mood stabilizer, opening the possibility of their use as a treatment for depression and bipolar disorder
- have possible beneficial cardiovascular effects
- are important precursors of anti-inflammatory prostaglandins

It's recommended that people eat fish at least twice a week. In particular, albacore tuna and salmon are high in two kinds of omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). It's also a good idea to eat tofu and other forms of soybeans, canola, walnut and flaxseed, and their oils, which contain alpha-linolenic acid (LNA), which can become omega-3 fatty acid in the body.

FuturePundit has more to say about the benefits of Omega-3's.

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