Thinking about getting some Omega 3's? If not maybe you should be!! Especially since they may help your mood this winter, if you are prone to seasonal affective disorder.  Why take them? Most of us don't get enough Omega 3's in our diet. Our bodies can't make it- we need to get it from other sources. Many of us don't each much fish at all, which are a huge provider of Omega 3's. Omega 3's have been shown to decrease inflammation in so many different ways throughout the body. That is why they are so beneficial. Here is a laundry list of the many things Omega 3's may help with: : cardiovascular disease-some studies show that taking at least a gram per day can help to lower your triglyceride levels, by as much as 8%! high blood pressure depression diabetes joint pain fatigue Alzheimer's arthritis and more! You can get Omega 3's from salmon, tuna, sardines,mackerel cod, flounder ,flaxseed, linseed, green leafy vegetables, tofu, winter squashes, soybeans, navy beans, kidney beans, canola oil, soybean oil, olive oil and walnuts. How do you know how much you are getting? a 7 oz serving of flounder = 1 gram Omega 3's 4 oz. canned white tuna= 1 gram Omega 3's 4 oz. salmon can have up to 2 grams of Omega 3's! The American Heart Association recommends 1 gram per day of Omega 3's(should contain EPA and DHA) for people at risk of cardiovascular disease. It is recommended that you talk to your physician if you decide to take any Omega 3 supplements. There may be some drug-nutrient interactions or side effects. If you are not currently at risk for cardiovascular disease the recommendation is to eat fish at least twice per week. There currently exists no established dosing information for children. Some infant formulas contain fatty acids. For adults, you can see a guide of contaminant levels in supplements by going to http://apps.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=16536. This is the Environmental Defense Fund list of safe fish oil supplements. You can also find information on contaminants in fish, mercury, etc. |
