What is omega-3? Well, for those who are interested, the crucial fatty acids are - eixosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and decosahexaenoic acid (DHA), these are the healthy fats that your body loves! Lets get straight to it, what are the benefits?
- Can lower your risk of heart disease by reducing your blood fat (triglycerides)
- Can help reduce stiffness and joint pain
- Can lower levels of inflammation
- Helps cell development
- Reduces risk of cardiovascular disease
- Helps to lower blood pressure
- Helps to improve immune system
- Aids in fat loss
So, they are some of the benefits that omega-3s can provide. There are more, but some of them haven't had enough research and seem to be just opinions of certain trainers/doctors/nutritionists.
Many people seem to think that all fats are bad, and this is when those people are wrong. These are essential to your health and you NEED them. They can benefit everyone - men, women, older people, younger people, children, fitness freaks, athletes, bodybuilders and so on. Its a great supplement to take if you don't have the time to get enough through food, and some people don't like the foods that contain them or can't eat a lot of them. Here are some food sources for omega-3s:
- Flax seeds
- Walnuts
- Salmon
- Sardines
- Shrimp
- Soybeans
- Cod
If you love the foods above, then you will be able to get a lot of omega-3s into your diet very easily, but if you're not a big fan of those foods, then I strongly recommend you take an omega-3 supplement. You don't want to miss out on the benefits and your body wants those fats!
Enjoy your Sunday, the sun is shining here, but I will be glued to my TV watching Lewis Hamilton hopefully winning the formula 1 race today!
Lee Gregory Fitness