The Health Benefits of Omega-3

Omega-3 health benefits are the latest buzz all over the world. The remarkable benefits of omega-3 related to our heart, brain and skin have taken everyone by surprise.

Omega-3 fatty acids were discovered accidentally in the 1900s when researchers were studying the reason behind the low rate of cardiovascular disorders amongst Eskimos. It was later discovered that Eskimos survived mainly on fish, which has high levels of fatty acids.

Since then, we haven't stopped finding new benefits from fish oil. So what exactly is omega-3?

Omega-3 is a name given to a family of polyunsaturated fatty acids that are crucial for our health. They consist of Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).

While all three of these polyunsaturated fats are essential for our health, they cannot be synthesized by our body. We need to solely depend on our diets to obtain them. As we all know, fish is the richest source of omega-3, but there are certain vegan sources as well.

The plant-based sources of fatty acids are green leafy vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, tofu, cabbage, soybeans and cauliflower. Walnuts, hemp seeds, flaxseed oil, canola oil and sunflower oil are also rich in ALA fatty acids. ALA fats need to be converted into EPA and DHA to be absorbed by our body.

Now that you know about the richest sources of the essential fatty acids, let us tell you why you need to consume them regularly and how they can help you. Omega-3 benefits are widespread and innumerable.

One of the most important aspects of EPA and DHA is keeping our heart healthy. Fish oils are known to reduce triglycerides in our blood and increase the HDL cholesterol levels. This drastically reduces the risk of coronary heart diseases.

Fish oils also have blood thinning properties which improves the blood flow throughout our body. This prevents blocking of arteries and clogging of platelets, which lowers the chances of heart strokes or sudden cardiac arrest.

DHA fats present in fish oils are known as the building block of the brain. EPA is the nutrient that controls the communication between nerve cells and the brain. Most of the doctors prescribe omega-3 fish oils to people suffering from depression, schizophrenia, memory loss, low IQ and other mental disorders.

It is worth mentioning here that fish oils rich in DHA and EPA are especially beneficial for treating mental problems. One such fish oil is extracted from the Hoki fish and has 40% higher DHA content than other oils. Hoki is a cold-water species found in New Zealand that has naturally high levels of DHA and EPA.

EPA and DHA have benefits that include the prevention of cancer. The essential fatty acids trigger the secretion of Sphingomyelinase, an enzyme that inhibits the growth of cancerous cells. Thus, regularly consuming fish oils will protect you against breast, colon and prostate cancer.

Regular consumption of fish oils can provide relief from joint inflammation and joint problems such as arthritis, cystitis etc. The EPA and DHA fats present in fish oils strengthen the joints and improve mobility.

Skin problems such as eczema, psoriasis and various allergies can be successfully treated with fish oils. They are known to improve the skin's condition dramatically making it soft, radiant and problem-free.

To ensure you obtain the maximum purest omega-3, you need to consume a pharmaceutical grade, molecularly distilled fish oil. Such omega-3 supplements are pure and provide maximum health benefits.

Article by Micheal Thomas:
Micheal Thomas is an editor for a series of health related websites. Learn about the best fish oil capsules that we ourselves use daily after extensive product comparisons and research over at http://www.omega-3-fish-benefits.com.