Omega-3 Fatty Acids-Why YOU Need Them

If you are not currently taking an Omega -3 supplement, you probably should start.  There are a whole bunch of reasons why, ranging from heart disease risk to pain control.  This is one supplement that seriously cannot be overrated.  

What is omega-3 fatty acid and what does your body do with it?

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids: They are necessary for many processes in the body but the body cannot make them -- you have to get them through food.  Also known as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), omega-3 fatty acids play a crucial role in brain function, as well as normal growth and development.  Research shows that omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation and may help lower risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and arthritis.  In fact, infants who do not get enough omega-3 fatty acids from their mothers during pregnancy are at risk for developing vision and nerve problems.  They are integral in an enormous amount of bodily functions, therefore, an imbalance or lack of omega-3's can cause a wide variety of symptoms. They include fatigue, poor memory, dry skin, heart problems, mood swings or depression, and poor circulation to name a few.  

Omega-3's also have an interactive role with omega-6 fatty acids in the body.  They need to be in a proper ratio for optimal performance.  The ratio that works best is 1 to 1.  However, most American diets provide a 20-1 omega-6 to omega-3 ratio.  NOT good!  The 6 to 3 ratio is essential in mediating inflammation in the body.  Omega-6 fatty acids trigger inflammation to stimulate healing.  Omega-3's calm it down once its purpose has been served.  If you do not have enough omega-3's your body can start an inflammatory reaction but it cannot get it stopped.  This is a very bad thing for the body.  It creates a constant "pro-inflammatory" environment.  This leads to greater pain, allergies, auto-immune issues, fibromyalgia flare-ups and many other problems.


So, what can a proper balance do for you?  A supplement of omega-3 fatty acids to restore a proper balance can aid in helping with the following issues:


1.   Heart disease and risk of heart disease
2.   High Cholesterol and high blood pressure
3.   Diabetes
4.   Rheumatoid Arthritis
5.   Lupus
6.   Cancer types:  Colon, breast and prostate
7.   Depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, cognitive decline
8.   Skin disorders
9.   Allergies and Asthma
10. Inflammatory Bowel Disease
11. Macular Degeneration
12. Menstrual pain
13. Osteoporosis


Sounds too good to be true, doesn't it?  When there is a "building block" missing in the body, a wide variety of systems and processes are interrupted.  Over time, this can lead to a wide variety of disease processes.  Restoring the body's ability to work properly can reverse or halt these processes.  Which problems each person gets will depend on the other balancing factors within each individual body.  


How much should you take?  It is recommended that you not exceed 3 grams per day.  What you need depends on how you eat.  Are you a fish eater?  If you get more than 2 servings of fish (not fried) per week, I would take 1 or 2 per day.  If you eat none, I would take 2-3.  If you are on blood thinners, ask your doctor first.  This is a good idea if you are on any heart medications, just to make sure none of them are blood thinners.