What is Omega-3?
Here is a quick run down on Omega-3, what it is and why it is good for you.
I’m writing about this because Omega-3 is found in abundance in chia seeds.
According to scientists, there are certain fats that your body HAS TO HAVE in order to function properly. One of these is Omega-3, which is commonly found in cold water fish oils, such as salmon, herring, mackerel, sturgeon and anchovies. as well as walnuts and certain fruits and vegetables.
- Now, I could tell you a true story about having to take cod liver oil as a child but I won’t get into that right now because the main subject of this post is Omega-3.
Back to what the scientists say.
Omega-3 is an essential fatty acid. In the body, essential fatty acids are primarily used to produce hormone-like substances that regulate a wide range of functions, including blood pressure, blood clotting, blood lipid levels, the immune response, and the inflammation response to injury infection.
The human body cannot produce Omega-3 and that is why we need to eat certain foods that have it. As you know, I advocate chia seeds for this purpose above all other sources of Omega-3. That is partly because I have been eating them for over 20 years and I know the other benefits besides just the Omega-3 benefits.
- Again, that is a topic for another post, so I must get back to science here.
According to Laurie Tansman, MS, RD, CDN, a nutritionist at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, “It not only plays a vital role in the health of the membrane of every cell in our body, it also helps protect us from a number of key health threats.”
How does Omega-3 do all this (and more)? There is a lot of technical jargon about this but I’ll boil it down to say that it helps in the production of certain body chemicals that help to control inflammation, not only in the tissues, but in the bloodstream and the joints.
What are the Benefits of Omega-3?
Over at webMD, writer Collette Bouchez tells us that “…the benefits of omega-3s include reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke while helping to reduce symptoms of hypertension, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), joint pain and other rheumatoid problems, as well as certain skin ailments. Some research has even shown that Omega-3s can boost the immune system and help protect us from an array of illnesses including Alzheimer’s disease.” (Ms. Bouchez’s article was reviewed by Louise Chang, MD)
The USDA states, “One tablespoon of chia seed is said to be enough to supply a person with 24 hours worth of energy.”
That is because of the Omega-3 and Omega-6 balance and a whole bunch of other things too.
It seems to me that just this little bit of data is enough to make a person put chia seeds on their diet as fast as possible!
Enjoy good health with chia seeds!