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The Benefits and
Importance of Omega-3 Supplements
What is Omega-3?
To put it quite simply Omega-3 is a form
of polyunsaturated fatty acids. The long chain omega-3 fatty acids that are
needed for essential health are EPA (eicosapentaenoic) and DHA (docosahexaenoic).
These forms are not made in the body, and therefore can only be obtained
through consuming marine life, certain plants or taken omega-3 supplements.
Why is Omega-3 important for health?
Clinical health studies have shown that
taken supplements of Omega-3, is important for healthy people, as well as
people at risk of developing, or people that have a variety of illnesses.
According to many health studies that have been conducted with omega-3 fatty
acids, they conclude that omega-3 fatty acids provide health benefits in the
following way.
- Helps promote a healthy heart
- Reduces Cholesterol
- Supports the immune system
- Thrombosis
- Helps lower blood pressure
- Reduces
inflammation, this helps people with arthritis and other inflammation
disorders
- Lowers triglycerides levels, raises HDL
levels, therefore benefits people with diabetes, elevates mood, enhances
mental concentration
- Plays a big part in enhancing the
development of the central nervous system of infants
- Helps prevent heart attacks and stokes
- Helps prevent sudden death, caused by
cardiac arrest
There are more health studies being
conducted with Omega-3 EPA and DHA in improving mental illnesses, like
manic/depression, bipolar and ADHD. Other studies that are being conducted
include colon cancer and mixing omega-3 into medicines for inflammatory
bowel disease has shown improvement in symptoms of Crohn’s disease and
ulcerative colitis.
The Food and Drug Administration acknowledge these studies and allow the
health claims of omega-3 fatty acids to be labeled on food products and
dietary supplements that contain Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA.
Why are omega-3 supplements better then getting omega-3 from plants or
marine life?
1. The most important reason for taken omega-3 in supplement form, is that
you can have the health benefits of Omega-3 without the contaminants that
some marine life and plants carry.
2. Some people that have high
triglycerides or coronary artery disease may need more omega-3 then they can
get from diet alone. This should be determined by a doctor.
3. You know how much omega-3 you are
actual taken. All supplements list how many milligrams of omega-3 is in each
serving. This is very hard to determine by diet alone how much omega-3 you
actually consume. You would have to know how much omega-3 was in each
serving of marine life or plants and measure the portion of each serving.
4. Omega-3 supplements are convenient, you
can carry them with you and take them anytime of the day that they are
needed.
How safe are omega-3 supplements?
Ask your doctor before taken omega-3
supplements if you are currently taken medication, or under a doctors care.
Especially if you are currently taken medication for blood thinning, as this
may cause bleeding.
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