Why Omega-3 Fatty Acids Should Be Essential to Any Diet

If you’re looking for an easy way to boost your memory, fight depression, fight autoimmune disease and to reap so many more benefits of one little thing… look no further than Omega-3 fatty acids.

Omega-3 fatty acids refer to a polyunsaturated fatty acid that is essential to the human body that influences some of its key functions like brain function, reduction of inflammatory reactions, multiple metabolic pathways and helping to combat cardiovascular problems.

The body is able to make a good number of the fats it needs for a healthy life, but Omega-3 fatty acids have to come from external sources.

The main types of this fatty acid are:

1. Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA): This is the more prevalent of the two and your body will extract it from nuts, flax seeds, leafy vegetables and fat from animals that are grass-fed. ALA is used in your body to generate energy.
2. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA): Your body will extract these fatty acids from fish. Some people will refer these ones as marine Omega-3s.

Sources of Omega-3

The main sources of this fatty acid include: Fish – especially wild salmon, sardines, lake trout, herring, bluefish, mackerel, tuna, anchovies and sturgeons; vegetable oils; flax seeds; nuts – more so walnuts; flaxseed oils and leafy vegetables.

RELATED: Gluten-free Lemon Tarragon Crispy Salmon

Benefits of Omega-3 to your body

There are very many benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids to your body. The main ones include:

• To prevent and fight cardiovascular conditions
• People who come consume diets rich in high levels of Omega-3 fatty acids have been found to have low levels of depression.
• They are essential in the development of infants, especially for their neurological and visual functions.
• These fatty acids are known to boost lung function and lower inflammation commonly associated with asthma.
• Dementia and Alzheimer’s are suppressed by these acids according to some research.
• They also have a positive effect on children with emotional and behavioral problems.
• The lowering of the probability of hypertension.
• Prevention of pre-term births
• Severity reduction in cases of autoimmune disorders.
• They have repressive effects on breast metastasis and growth of breast cancer.
• Reduction in macular degeneration in elderly people.
• Prevents and suppresses insulin resistance.
• Therapeutic effects on postpartum depression.
• Helping in the treatment of many other diseases and boosting your immune system.

Omega-3 fatty acids are so essential that the American Heart Association recommends a diet rich in these fatty acids at least 3 times in a week. It is also beneficial to introduce such a diet to children, which will be essential to their development and general well-being.

Three Bakers Great Seed Whole Grain and 7 Seed Bread provides a good source of Omega 3 ALA with Sunflower Seeds, Sesame Seeds, Chia Seeds, Millet Seeds, Hulled Hemp Seeds, Flax Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds. Learn more here.