Omega-3 Fatty Acids: What Makes Them So Essential To Your Health?

The more we learn about essential Omega-3 fatty acids, we realize how much our bodies are protected from the disease processes they appear to inhibit, most notably heart disease. When we examine in depth how Omega-3 fats help us since our bodies cannot make them, it appears that their main action in the body is to stimulate chemicals that reduce inflammation in the joints, connective tissues and circulatory system. Inflammation is often neglected by most medical professionals because it not as easily detected in typical tests you have conducted in the doctor’s office during routine check-ups.

Combine Omega 3s inflammation-inhibiting properties with its vital role in controlling the lopsided ration of another important fatty acid–Omega-6s–and the full arsenal of its health promoting and disease inhibiting properties is set in motion. The actions of Omega-6 fatty acids, commonly found in most of the foods that make up the typical American diet, include maintaining the integrity and protective properties of the skin, aiding in the control of cholesterol, and enabling blood cells to adhere to each other and form blood clots to heal wounds. By exercising, eating a healthy diet, and consuming the recommended amounts of Omega-3s, the less obvious benefits of qualifying for affordable health insurance, saving money on prescription drugs, and feeling better overall are quickly realized.

In the typical American diet, we consume way too many Omega-6s than is considered healthy, in foods like mayonnaise, poultry, vegetable oils and margarine, just to name a few. Too many Omega-6s inside your body can increase clotting and be a precursor to heart attacks and strokes. Ideally, we need to maintain a ratio of no greater than 4:1, Omega-6s to Omega-3s, but the reality is most Americans are walking around with a ratio as high as 20:1. EEEEEEK!

To consume a satisfactory amount of Omega-3 fatty acids, the FDA suggests eating 2 four-ounce servings of coldwater fish, like Wild Alaskan salmon (my personal favorite!). However, as an alternative you might also consider ground flaxseed or flaxseed oil for a plant-based Omega-3 source. Other vital low-carb sources of Omega-3s include fish oil supplements, grass-fed beef, broccoli, cantaloupe, spinach leaves and walnuts.

The use of Omega-3 fatty acids has been reported to cause small reductions in blood pressure in human trials, but occurred at higher levels than the FDA recommends. Since these higher doses of Omega-3s can promote prolonged bleeding times, such implementation for personal use should only be done after consulting your doctor first. Clinical trials have also shown that fish oil supplements can cause small improvements in the ratio of HDL “good” cholesterol to LDL “bad” cholesterol as well as significantly reduce triglycerides (like what happened for my wife Christine earlier this year when she dropped her triglycerides by 55 percent in just 6 weeks of fish oil treatments and a low-carb diet).

There are also quite a few studies that reveal the heart-protective properties of Omega-3s in the form of oily fish or fish oil supplements. Consumption of Omega-3s has been shown to reduce the likelihood of non-fatal and fatal heart attacks in patients with a history of previous heart attack.

In many other health areas, such as child development, mental functioning, memory, and visual health, the beneficial effects of Omega-3 fatty acids have been studied, yielding quite promising results. In most cases, the studies have produced results that call for continued research and analysis. With such strong evidence that Omega-3 fatty acids offer protection from recurrent heart attacks, those of us with such a history can benefit tremendously by making sure we are consuming the recommended amount of Omega-3 fatty acids.

For more information on this subject, you won’t want to miss my podcast interview with Dr. Barry Sears, a man who knows a thing or two about this Omega-3/Omega-6 balance and its impact on health. That’s coming up on Wednesday at “The Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore” in Episode 201. Got anything else to add about the health benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids? Share you knowledge with us below!