Fit-IQ 11/23
What do Omega 3s do in your body?
- Reduce inflammation throughout your body
- Increase HDL (good cholesterol)
- Increase LDL
- Decrease blood pressure
The answer is 1 and in an indirect way, 4.
Omega 3s reduce the risk heart disease, and stroke by helping the body to produce chemicals that reduce inflammation. The body's response to being overweight, eating an unhealthy diet, and leading a sedentary life is to try to fight the impact. This response causes system-wide inflammation which can, in the long run, translate into serious lifestyle related illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and even some forms of cancer.
Some research has even shown that omega 3s might boost our immune systems and protect us from certain conditions such as Alzheimers. It is important in the production of cells, and helps them grow strong to protect us from all sorts of nasties.
In addition, Omega 3s help to balance Omega 6s, which is another essential fatty acid that is more prevalent in the foods we eat. Unbalanced, Omega 6s can cause "sticky blood" which increases the change of narrowing of the arteries. SO not cool! We can reduce our intake of Omega 6, but we don't want to go overboard because we need that The best bet is to eat more Omega 3s. Most American diets are deficient in Omega 3 while getting more than enough Omega 6. One study showed that our typical diet gives us a 20-1 ratio of Omega 6s to Omega 3s.
You can get omega 3s from cold water fish such as salmon, sturgeon, and mackerel. You can also get it from nuts (walnuts are high), and other interesting foods such as flax seed and chia seed. I've been eating Chia sprinkled on my cereal and it isn't half bad!
My personal opinion is that it is best to get your vitamins and minerals from whole foods, not supplements or fortified because a lot of studies are
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