Chances are you've heard the terms fatty acid, EFAs and omega-3 before, but do you know what a fatty acid really is or why your body needs it? No sweat! I make it all very easy for you to understand. What about the different types of fatty acids, what foods you can naturally find them in and whether or not you should supplement?
Fatty acids are important for all systems of the body to function normally, including your skin, respiratory system, circulatory system, brain and organs. The two essential fatty acids that the human body cannot produce are the omega-3 fatty acid and omega-6 fatty acid, which are important for brain development, immune system function and blood pressure regulation. Today we are going to talk about Omega-3. Stay tuned for my write up on Omega-6.
What is Omega-3 Fatty Acid?
Omega-3 fatty acids, also known as "good fats," are essential for optimal health. Like vitamins and minerals, omega-3 must be provided by our diet as it is not produced by our bodies. Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) are the active forms of omega-3 required by the body to perform vital functions.
Omega-3 Foods
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| Fatty Fish, Eggs, Nuts and Seeds, Flax Seed and Flax Oil, Leafy Green Vegetables, Spirulina |
Omega-3 function in the body Promotes cardiovascular health Reduces inflammation Supports mental focus and cognitive function Supports positive mood and emotional well-being Promotes brain, eye and nervous system health Supports healthy immune system function Enhances appearance of skin and hair Promotes optimal fat metabolism Health Benefits of Omega-3 Fatty AcidResearch on the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acid have shown that it may be useful for supporting the following conditions.
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Why you Should Supplement
If you don’t eat fish—the main food source of the omega-3s DHA and EPA—at least two to three times a week, you might consider a supplement. Go for DHA+EPA. Studies suggest that this combination of omega-3s is best for overall health (e.g., preventing heart disease and depression, promoting healthy brain development). A third type of omega-3 fat, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), found in flax, is not very effective at promoting overall health but is still very healthy for you and a great complement to a whole and healthy diet.
Individuals who consume a high amount of fatty fish in their diet tend not to need to supplement with fish oil as much or as often, however you should also remember that many of the fish varieties do contain higher levels of mercury, which also needs to be monitored in the human body.
If these levels of mercury get too high, that can cause a boat load of problems, so it's vital that you keep a good balance. A high quality and trusted fish oil supplement along with fatty fish on occasion will be the best way to meet your body's needs safely.
Giveaway
A BIG thank-you to Ascenta Health for awarding one lucky My Wholesome Home follower a prize pack valued at $150 which includes:
NutraSea Mango
NutraSea with Vitamin D
NutraSea Canine
NutraSea Feline
NutraSea Kids Why I love Ascenta products
Every Ascenta product is manufactured under government audited, Good Manufacturing Practices.
Before their products leave their facility, they are sent to an external laboratory to ensure that they
exceed the stringent quality standards of the World Health Organization and the
Global Organization for EPA and DHA (GOED). Their fish oils do not smell like a fish market!
Instead they smell and taste of fresh ripe fruits likes mangos and citrus. You can easily add your oil
to a smoothie, yogurt or salad. All Ascenta products are third-party tested for contaminants
including mercury, PCBs and dioxins. Now that is a clean and high-quality product if you ask me!
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| My personal supply of Ascenta products |
To Enter
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You must do the first entry in order to enter.
You will have until Monday March 12, 2012. at 11:59pm EST to enter.
The winner will be chosen via random number generator (www.random.org) the next day and notified by email. I'll also post the winners on my blog in the comments below. If I don't hear back from the winner within 72 hours, I'll pick another.
Good luck!
For more information on NutraSea, NutraVege and their amazing products for children and pets, visit their website: www.ascentahealth.com