Omega-3 Fatty Acids – A Good Fat you need in your Life

Many people are concerned about what they’re eating these days. They read up on what foods to avoid and what foods they should eat. One area in general people tend to avoid is fats. While this is typically a good rule to follow, there are exceptions to this rule. By avoiding all fats, your diet will be lacking important supplements for proper health. One fat in particular you should not avoid is omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s are vital in the membrane of our bodies’ cells. They also help prevent many diseases illnesses, including heart disease, strokes and joint pain, to name a few. By making sure your diet includes this good fat, you could be adding years onto your life.

Omega-3s are found in many foods, including walnuts, certain fruits and vegetables, and in coldwater fish such as herring and salmon. This is a reason why many experts say people are lacking omega-3 fatty acids in their diets. People either think you should avoid large quantities of fish, or they don’t enjoy eating fish. Because the FDA has warned about mercury poisoning, people started avoiding fish in their diets. The problem here, experts say, is that the warning was meant mainly for young children and pregnant women. Also, a recommended safe serving of fish, the FDA says, is 12 ounces per week. People need just 6 ounces per week to get the needed amount of omega-3s. Omega-3s also are found in walnuts, canola oil, broccoli, cantaloupe, kidney beans, spinach, grape leaves, Chinese cabbage and cauliflower.

Omega-3 fatty acids help your body in many ways. One way is by encouraging the production of body chemicals that help control inflammation – in joints, bloodstream and tissues. Omega-3s also help reduce negative effects of other needed fats. It counteracts the negative impact omega-6 fatty acids can have on a body by helping the blood clot properly. While many people get their omega-3s through fish oil capsules, most experts recommend getting the fatty acids naturally through the foods, or, if a supplement is needed, through flaxseed.

While avoiding fatty foods is a good general idea to live by, just remember that not all fats are bad for you. Omega-3s not only prevent life-threatening illnesses such as heart disease, it also can help reduce symptoms of other illnesses such as joint pain and depression. Try to get your omega-3s naturally in foods for the best results. Don’t just write off a food because it has the word fat in it. You might just be doing harm to your body if you do.

If you do not eat fish every week or maybe you don’t like fish, you should supplement your diet with fish oil capsules. But not all products are high quality. You want pure and clean fish oil without high mercury levels. Herbalife makes a product called Herbalife fish oile that is very popular.