lennemagdalene

· 13 Nov 2021

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What Are the Benefits of Omega-3?

We can term Omega 3 as a class of essential fatty acids found in fish oils, especially from salmon and other cold-water fish. These fatty acids work to lower the levels of cholesterol and LDL (low-density lipoproteins) in the blood. LDL cholesterol is the "bad" cholesterol that causes diseases in the body. Omega 3 is known to have benefits particularly for your brain and general body. These benefits may range from simple to complex, depending on the parts of the body they nourish. They include:




1.    Improvement of mental illnesses.
According to many studies done, low omega-3 levels have been closely linked to psychiatric disorders. Also, the same studies have shown that giving Omega 3 supplements to patients has shown to improve their status of schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. Giving people with violent behaviors Omega 3 supplements may help them remain in a calm state.  




2.    Fighting autoimmune diseases.
Autoimmune diseases happen when the body’s defense mechanism mistakenly attacks its cells, causing harm. In the end, the defense mechanism attacks healthy cells, making the body weaker as time goes by. An example of such disease is diabetes type 1 where the body attacks the pancreas, affecting the production of insulin. Giving Omega 3 supplements to such people may help reduce the negative effects caused by autoimmunity. Also, it is advisable to take omega-3 fatty acids during the early years of life as it prevents people from developing some medical problems. Omega-3 protects you from getting conditions like ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, etc.




3.    Fighting inflammation.
When our bodies get attacked by viruses or bacteria, they respond through inflammation. This inflammation is a natural body response to show that something is not okay. Inflammation ideally does not last for long as it reduces with proper treatment. However, this does not happen in all situations, as sometimes it can last for months and even years. Such extreme cases are called chronic inflammation and are linked to the development of other diseases like cancer and heart diseases. Taking omega-3 fatty acids may help your body reduce chemicals like cytokines and eicosanoids that cause inflammation.




4.    Cancer prevention.
In the 21st century, cancer has been the number one cause of death in the world. It is such a complex disease to study and, therefore, treating it is also a problem. Because of these two factors, the treatment of cancer is also super expensive and not everyone can afford it. This makes some people have a short lifespan after a cancer diagnosis. According to the research done, people who regularly consume omega-3 fatty acids have up to 55% lower risk of developing colon cancer. There is also some evidence claiming that omega-3 can reduce prostate cancer in men and breast cancer in women, but this study is yet to be confirmed.




5.    Reduction of metabolic syndromes.
Metabolism is the process by which your body converts what you eat and drink into energy. For example, when you eat food, the body breaks it down into minor components that can be easily absorbed. When metabolic processes are impaired, people get syndromes like central obesity (belly fat), high blood pressure, insulin resistance, high triglycerides, and low cholesterol levels. These syndromes put people at risk of developing heart diseases and some types of cancers. For this reason, they have drawn a great debate on how they can be prevented from enabling people to live normal lives. One way in which scientists have suggested is the use of omega-3 fatty acids. They have been shown to improve insulin resistance, inflammation, and heart diseases, especially in people with metabolic syndromes.





6.    Reduction of asthma.
When children are given omega-3, it helps them reduce the chances of developing asthma and other diseases as they grow up. Asthma is termed a chronic obstructive lung disease that is characterized by difficulty in breathing and wheezing. When airways swell, they block the passage of air in and out of the lungs, triggering a severe asthmatic attack. Taking omega 3 has been highly recommended by scientists. This is because there is evidence that omega-3 is associated with reduced cases of asthma in children and adults.





7.    Omega-3 can reduce cases of ADHD in children.  
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a very common mental illness in children. Its diagnosis is mostly made at age 7, although its symptoms show as early as 3 years of age. It makes children unable to concentrate and can’t sit still. ADHD can also happen in adulthood as well. Studies tell us that children with ADHD have lower levels of omega-3 in their blood when compared to other healthy children. Giving omega-3 fatty acids to children with ADHD can help them concentrate more and remain focused when performing various tasks. Because such kids find it difficult to finish small tasks, supplementing them with omega-3 can help their brains function well, making them finish the tasks. Omega-3 also reduces their hyperactivity, restlessness, and aggression. Fish oil is also a part of the treatment of ADHD.





8.    Omega-3 can reduce fats in your liver.
The liver is not supposed to contain fats. The liver gets fatty because of medical diseases like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Fatty liver is the accumulation of triglycerides and other fats in the liver cells. The amount of fatty acid in the liver depends on the balance between the processes of delivery and removal. A fatty liver does not function properly and makes people suffer from obesity. However, supplementing people with omega-3 fatty acids effectively can reduce the inflammation in people with a fatty liver. Also, it can prevent your body from accumulating excess triglycerides that damage your liver.




Conclusion.
Omega-3 fatty acids are highly beneficial to the body. They can be obtained from foods like salmon and other types of fish. Taking them at least twice a week can protect you from many diseases. Since not everyone enjoys taking a lot of fish, you can then go for omega-3 supplements, and the benefits will be the same. Introducing omega-3 fatty acids to your children at an early age may help them enjoy full lives free of infections and some debilitating conditions we have today in the world.