What is Omega-3?
The term “omega-3″ gets thrown around a lot by the news, health officials and your significant other. It can be seen on different food products, supplements and oils. People say its good for you. So what is omega-3?? Let’s take a look at what omega-3 really is.
What is Omega-3?
Omega-3 is actually a fat. That’s right, a fat. But isn’t fat bad for you? Not quite. Omega-3 is part of a class of essential unsaturated fatty acids. We’ll get back to why and how this fat is essential.
Omega-3 fatty acids, also referred to as n-3 fatty acids or ω-3 fatty acids, can be broken down into 3 different forms: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), α-linolenic acid (ALA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). All of these omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated. As I mentioned before, omega-3 fatty acids are essential to the body. The reason they are classified as essential is because the body cannot synthesize them, yet they required for various bodily functions such as normal metabolism. It should be mentioned that the body has a limited ability to convert ALA into EPA and DHA.
Why you should consume omega-3 fatty acids/
You’re probably thinking, “what is omega-3′s significance to my health?”. This is a fair question. Remember that omega-3 fatty acids are considered essential fatty acids and that essential fatty acids are required for many functions of the body, including a normal metabolism. The problem lies in the fact that many of us do not consume enough omega-3 fatty acids, and therefore are bodies are negatively affected.
Many experts agree that the best fat intake is one split across an even ratio. This includes saturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, and monosaturated fat. Most of our diets consist of mostly monosaturated and saturated fat. Unfortunately, while these fats are necessary for health, they are also very inflammatory in nature. This inflammation can lead to inflammatory health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes or arthritis. Interestedly enough, polyunsaturated fats such as omega-3, are anti-inflammatory. These anti-inflammatory properties combat inflammation and round out an otherwise unhealthy fat intake.
The bottom line is that omega-3 is essential to a healthy diet, yet we do not consume enough or any for that matter!
Still not convinced?
If you’re still not convinced whether or not omega-3′s can benefit your health, please note that there are thousands if not ten’s of thousands of research findings, suggesting that sufficient omega-3 intake can have positive affects on everything from heart disease to depression!
Consider one of the most groundbreaking studies conducted in the 1970′s by researchers studying an Inuit tribe in Greenland. Researchers were shocked to discover that this entire population suffered virtually zero incidences of cardiovascular disease, despite consuming large quantities of fat from seafood. The kicker here is that the fat found in seafood is almost entirely omega-3! Researchers also found that this high level of omega-3 consumed also reduced blood pressure, heart rate and bad cholesterol!
This is only one study of literally thousands that support the notion that omega-3 is essential for optimal health! What are you waiting for? Check out more omega-3 benefits!