Well omega 3's are something to rave about after all! Essential fatty acid contains high-density lipoprotein (HDL) which is known as the good cholesterol; as it assists to remove levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL); the bad cholesterol from the body. LDL (the bad cholesterol) sticks to the arteries causing a narrowing of the arteries and reduced blood flow which eventuates into cardiovascular diseases such as a stroke. HDL removes LDL from the arteries, allowing the arteries to become wider and increase the blood travelling through. Therefore eating foods high in omega 3’s remove cholesterol from our arteries and decreases the chances of cardiovascular disease. Omega 3's also have an anti-inflammatory effect and therefore assist in reducing pain, from fibromyalgia to sciatic back pain and even acute inflammation from sprains or period cramps.
What are foods high in omega 3? Foods that contain omega 3 (also known as eicosapentaenoic acid/EPA) includes oily fish such as salmon, sardines, mackerel, oysters and cod-liver oil. Other foods such as walnuts, chia seeds, flaxseeds, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds contain alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) which our body needs to converts into EPA which can then be absorbed as omega 3 in the body.
Aim to include two oily fish into your weekly diet and one tablespoon of the seeds above to feel the effects of omega 3’s on your body. Never underestimate the power of food.
I hope you enjoyed this read,
Stay happy and healthy, Balancedbeings x x References Please note I have left them in link form so you can easily click and access the studies I used for this post. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5651013/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20090445/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5067287/