Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past 10 years or so, you’ve heard many times about the importance of Omega-3 fatty acids for health. You’ve heard it hundreds of times that you must eat fish (and/or ingest fish oil) in order to get your omega 3s.
Before I address that issue, I believe some explanation is in order to make sure you understand what is what. It’s going to be a bit technical, but it will help you understand what you need to do to stay healthy.
What are Omega-3 & Omega-6 Fats?
Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are a type of fat that your body needs but cannot make on its own and, therefore, it must be obtained from food. This makes these fats “essential”–a mandatory nutrient that we need to consume daily. To get these fats, you need to eat certain foods rich in Omega-3s and Omega-6s.
Benefits of Omega 3-s
The reason these fats are so indispensable is because they’re responsible for making our nervous systems function correctly. They allow our bodies to grow normally, repair wounds, prevent skin disorders, maintain proper vision, ideal cognitive function, and optimal fertility.
Basically, without these fats, your body wouldn’t function properly and you’d have more issues than you’d like to even think about.
To get these fats, you need to eat certain foods rich in omega-3s. Unfortunately, there are few foods in our food supply that contain these beneficial fats.
The Omega-3 Fat Family
There are two critical omega-3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid, called EPA and docosahexaenoic or DHA), that the body needs. EPA and DHA are the building blocks for hormones that control immune function, blood clotting, and cell growth as well as components of cell membranes. Plant sources, such as walnuts and flaxseeds contain a precursor omega-3 (alpha-linolenic acid called ALA) that the body converts to EPA and DHA.
Along with omega-3 fatty acids, omega-6 fatty acids play a crucial role in brain function, as well as normal growth and development. Also known as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), they help stimulate skin and hair growth, maintain bone health, regulate metabolism, and maintain the reproductive system.
“The Truth About Eating Fish Or What Your Doctor Never Told You About Fish & Fish Oil Supplements. Fish Are Friends Not Food”
Coming soon to Amazon Kindle.
Questions? Comments? Suggestions?
If you have a favorite recipe, why not submit it here in the comment section of this smoothie recipes blog for others to enjoy too!
I also welcome any comments, questions and suggestions. Thanks!
Omega-3 fatty acids (also known as n-3 fatty acids) are polyunsaturated fatty acids that are essential nutrients for health. We need omega-3 fatty acids for numerous normal body functions, such as controlling blood clotting and building cell membranes in the brain, and since our bodies cannot make omega-3 fats, we must get them through food. Omega-3 fatty acids are also associated with many health benefits, including protection against heart disease and possibly stroke. New studies are identifying potential benefits for a wide range of conditions including cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and other autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.”,..*