What benefits come from omega 3 fatty acids? Are these available in supplements? If not, what foods contain it?

Omega 3 are essential fatty acid that help in normal development. Yes there are supplements out there. But you can also get them from beans, walnuts, flax seed, fish, and olive oil. These are concentrated sources of omega-3 fats. Better take these than those food products claiming to be fortified with omega 3. Go natural!

Omega 3 and Omega 6 play an important role in keeping our mind and body agile. In addition to being heart-friendly, Omega fatty acids are also needed for the synthesis of prostaglandins, which help in blood clotting, stabilizing body temperature and blood pressure and improving immune function. In fact studies now even show that pregnant women deficient in Omega 3 were found to give birth to children with more behavioral problems than those who did not lack this.

Omega 3 is found in fish, fish oil, rapeseed, walnuts, pumpkin seed and walnut oil and Omega 6 fats are mostly found in organic milk, cheese, green vegetables, meats (chicken/fish), grains and edible vegetable oils, especially sunflower and corn.

You can buy them as Flax Oil supplements as well as Fish oil supplements.

Please do NOT confuse Omega-3's and essential fatty acids. There are two types of "essential" fatty acids - in other words, those that your body does NOT make on its own.

Linoleic Acid - which includes Omega-6 fatty acid

and

Linolenic Acid - which includes Omega-3 fatty acids

These are both prototypically POLYunsatured fatty acids, but some concentration of monounsatures make the claim as well. Both flax and fish oil are examples of the Omega-3 category (which actually is more a structural term than anything), though they should NOT be considered EQUAL by any stretch of the imagination. Flax oil, while in the linolenic form, struggles with conversion to adequate levels of omega-3 that are worthwhile to the body, plus it is a phytoestrogen and can contribute to a whole slew of different maladies beyond the scope of this post considering various equations of quantitative estrogens that differentiates between xenoestrogens and phytoestrogens alongside normal hormonal equivalents, especially in females.

Dr. Houser is PRO-Fish and does NOT consider Flax to even be on the same level as far as health promotion is concerned.

Nuts and other types of plant oils are of the predominate monounsaturated fatty acid class. This is NOT as clear cut as its being made here. For more information on this topic see BodyPRIME e-book for more.


D_

Dr.Houser - 21 August 2008 08:57 AM

Dr. Houser is PRO-Fish and does NOT consider Flax to even be on the same level as far as health promotion is concerned.

I see. I used to believe that the benefits that you get from fish are the same benefits that you get from flax.

Omega 3 fatty acids are helpful for persons suffering from varicose veins, rheumatoid arthritis, It also reduces blood pressure and anxiety.

Dr.Houser - 21 August 2008 08:57 AM

Please do NOT confuse Omega-3's and essential fatty acids. There are two types of "essential" fatty acids - in other words, those that your body does NOT make on its own.

Linoleic Acid - which includes Omega-6 fatty acid
and
Linolenic Acid - which includes Omega-3 fatty acids

These are both prototypically POLYunsatured fatty acids, but some concentration of monounsatures make the claim as well. ls are of the predominate monounsaturated fatty acid class.
D_

Now I am confused. So is Omega 3 a fatty acid or not? need a clarification, as you've said there are 2 types of essential fatty acids and then go on to list Omega 3 fatty acid as one of them. Correct me if I have not understood this.

Dr.Houser - 21 August 2008 08:57 AM

This is NOT as clear cut as its being made here. For more information on this topic see BodyPRIME e-book for more.

Where can I see the BodyPrime E- book?