The Benefits and Truth about Omega 3

There is a great amount of scientific information available to support the health benefits of omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 fatty acids are present in fish oils from oily fish like salmon, and obviously, good quality (non-rancid) fish oil products.

General omega 3 benefits involve:

• protecting against cardiovascular diseases and improving heart health
• improving joint health
• improving behavior and moods, such as ADHD
• helping fetus development in pregnant women 
• inhibiting some of cancer cells

Omega 3 for a Healthy Heart

The benefits of Omega 3 for a healthy heart have been recorded and are well known. Many doctors and nutritionists recommend that people should eat at least eat two servings per week, especially salmon, which is very rich in omega 3 fatty acid.

A study conducted on a group of 18 men aged 68 and above who experienced heart attack within the last three months to five years found out that Omega 3 fish oil helped improve their heart health and potentially lessened the risk of more heart attacks.

All these men took a supplement that contained 810mg of fish oil per day for four months, and another group took a placebo that was a combination of corn oil and olive oil. All participants did not know if they were taking a supplement or placebo, as is the norm.

Both groups’ resting and post-workout heart rates were measured. It was found that individuals who took the omega 3 fish oils had a lower resting heart rate, and their heart rate came back to normal much faster after exercising. Of course, men that have a high heart rate when resting have a higher possibility of experiencing a heart attack, and possibly dying as a result. 

Combination of Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids Supplements

A combination of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids are very helpful in certain occasions. A recent study found that teenagers aged twelve to fifteen years-old who take supplements containing both Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids had an amazing attention span. All these young adults had also been clinically recognized with average to severe ADHD, suffering persistent troubles with recklessness, attention, and focus.

At the beginning of the study, the particular inattentiveness of all these students was assessed at an average of ninety four percent (94%). After 12 weeks of taking a supplement containing a high quantity of omega 3 fish oil and omega 6 fatty acids, their inattentiveness had fallen to an average of  17%.  The same benefits were observed concerning impulsivity; average score of 89% fell to 28% at the end of the trial study.

These two different studies of both young individuals and senior citizens clearly show that Omega 3 fish oil is very helpful and must always be included in any nutritional diet, either by eating fresh fish rich in oil or taking an Omega 3 fish oil supplement.