Omega 3 And Why You Need More
It is most likely that you have heard much about health benefits of Omega 3 fats if you have followed nutrition and health news. Though fats are generally considered unhealthy, Omega 3 fats are an exception. These compounds have been known to have positive effects on the rate of heart disease, high cholesterol levels, dementia, and even arthritis. Now scientists have added a new dimention by proving its efficacy in attention deficit disorder to this list.
There are a lot of polyunsaturated fats found in food like Omega 3 fats. Alpha-Linolenic acid (ALA), EicosaPentaenoic acid (EPA), and DocosaHexaenoic acid (DHA) are the three main varities of Omega 3 fats. Among the three, DHA has positive effect on attention deficit disorder.
Researchers at the University of Purdue found that children whose diets lacked sufficient quantities of DHA were more likely to show the classic symptoms of attention deficit disorder, including hyperactivity and behavior issues. Infants, too, are at risk, because DHA is transmitted through breast milk, and many mothers are not getting enough DHA to pass on to their children through lactation. In fact, about 85% of American women are deficient in these fatty acids.
Luckily, there are plenty of ways to get more of these useful fats into your system. The first way is to add foods rich in these nutrients to your diet. Some of these foods include fish such as salmon, herring, mackerel, anchovies, sardines, and tuna. Other sources include flax and walnuts. Increasing your intake of any or all of these foods will help with any deficiencies in your diet.
Fish oil supplements are available for individuals who do not like the foods listed above or who cannot change their diet. These supplements contain omega 3 fats and can provide all the fish oil benefits of foods rich in DHA. An added benefit of the fish oil supplements is the lack of aversive taste and the lack of change in diet.
Thousgh scientists and nutritionists know a great deal about the benefits of Omega 3 fats, the research is only begun. Still there are plenty of exciting new frontiers to be explored. Indeed, a new benefit of Omeg 3 fats comes to light every day. The most recent finding is about their effect on attention deficit disorder, a cause to celebrate
Fat in the diet is generally considered bad for health but omega 3 has health benefits. This polyunsaturated fat comes in several foods naturally. The DHA or fatty acids derived from it have been shown to be lacking in childrens' diets by researchers at the University of Purdue. Supplements are a way to get more of these useful fats into your system. These are usually in the form of fish oil supplements and contain enough useful fats to produce noticeable benefits. you can receive all the fish oil benefits of DHA-rich foods without any of the taste or hassle.
Published May 16th, 2007