nutrition

Mega Omega's!

ACTIVITY BYTES

A reduction in stress is just one of the benefits of regular physical activity.

Research continues to show more health benefits of Omega-3 Fats

Omega-3 fats found in foods such as fatty fish have a heap of benefits including heart health, cancer prevention, eye health, as well as infant brain and nervous system development.

Other areas of research show that omega-3 fats could help manage symptoms for those with psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease and other conditions related to inflammation^1-3.

Omega-3 fats are being studied as a treatment option for depression and while some research shows significant promise, it remains unclear if omega-3 fats can help prevent and treat depression^4-5.

There has also been study on the role of omega-3 fats in aging, more specifically in our overall alertness, memory and level of brain functioning. Some research shows that omega-3 fats may play an important role in prevention and treatment of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease⁶.

Boost Your Omega-3 Fat Intake!

Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating recommends eating 2 fish/seafood meals per week, yet Canadians typically only eat 3-4 fish/seafood meals per month. Clearly Canadians need to eat more fish, especially to capitalize on the powerful benefits of omega-3 fats.

For quick and healthy recipes using products containing omega-3 fats, check out our 'Take 5' (5 ingredients in 5 minutes) recipes.

Looking for More Information?

Check out our article “Nutrition for Healthy Eyes” to learn how omega-3 fats can help reduce macular degeneration which is the leading cause of age related loss of vision in Canada

For information about why omega-3 fats are important for infant brain, eye, and nervous system development please check out our article “Nutrition for a Healthy Pregnancy.”

To learn more about how omega-3 fats can reduce your risk of certain types of cancer such as breast, colon, and prostate cancer visit our article “Nutrition for Cancer Prevention.”

References:

¹La Guardia M, Giammanco S, Di Majo D, Tabacchi G, Tripoli E, Giammanco M.Omega 3 fatty acids: biological activity and effects on human health. Panminerva Med. 2005 Dec;47(4):245-57.

²Calder PC. Am J Clin Nutr. n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, inflammation, and inflammatory diseases. 2006 Jun;83(6 Suppl):1505S-1519S. Review.

³Mori TA, Beilin LJ. Omega-3 fatty acids and inflammation. Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2004 Nov;6(6):461-7. Review.

⁴Sontrop J, Campbell MK. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and depression: a review of the evidence and a methodological critique. Prev Med. 2006 Jan;42(1):4-13. Epub 2005 Dec 7.

⁵Katherine M Appleton, Robert C Hayward, David Gunnell, Tim J Peters, Peter J Rogers, David Kessler, and Andrew R Ness. Effects of n–3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids on depressed mood: systematic review of published trials. Am J Clin Nutr 2006;84:1308 –16.

⁶ Issa AM, Mojica WA, Morton SC, Traina S, Newberry SJ, Hilton LG, Garland RH, Maclean CH. The efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids on cognitive function in aging and dementia: a systematic review. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2006;21(2):88-96. Epub 2005 Dec 9.