In recent years, scientists have discovered that a compound found in fish oil and certain other foods helps improve heart function. Both in people with cardiovascular problems and in those with healthy hearts, this compound called Omega 3 helps regulate blood pressure, decrease cholesterol, and lower overall cardiovascular risk factors. In fact, Omega 3 is so beneficial that the FDA, the Canadian government, and the American Heart Association, among many other institutions, endorse its use for reducing risks of coronary heart disease.
Omega 3 is not a drug or a vitamin. Instead, it is a special type of fat that is “heart healthy”. Scientists theorize that in the past, people ate a high proportion of this heart healthy fat and a low proportion of so-called unhealthy fats such as saturated fats. Today, however, the balance has shifted away from heart healthy fats, resulting in increased cardiovascular risks to most people in industrialized nations. Fortunately, it is simple to reverse this effect by taking a supplement containing Omega 3.
If you’re interested in adding Omega 3 to your diet, the best way to do so is by consuming a substance called fish oil. Fish oil is a mild-tasting light oil pressed from fresh fish that has a high concentration of omega 3. It is available in enteric-coated or gelatin capsules to make it easy to take.
The best part about taking fish oil capsules is that the oil is tasteless and odorless, making it simple to add to your diet. Some people prefer liquid fish oil supplements, which are often lemon or citrus flavored, as an alternative. Choose a liquid or capsule fish oil supplement that is labeled as “deoderized” and that has been tested to contain a low amount of mercury, as some types of ocean fish accumulate this heavy metal.
According to scientific studies, the remarkable properties of the omega 3 fatty acids found in fish oil are due to a substance called EPA or eicosapentaenoic acid. EPA, which is also found in breast milk, has a wide variety of beneficial effects on the body. In general, it functions as a natural anti-inflammatory. Because it is now thought that heart disease is an immune-mediated condition, taking EPA and fish oil supplements can head off heart disease before it begins, as well as to reduce the ongoing heart and vascular damage in people who already have cardiovascular problems.
