Protective Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 appear to reduce the risk of heart attack. A 20-year project at the University of Leyden in the Netherlands, comparing the eating habits of more than 800 men at risk of heart disease, found that men who ate more than an ounce of fish a day had a 50 percent lower rate of heart attacks.

Since then, a lengthening list of studies has shown similar protection among men who eat fish at least two or three times a week. One possible explanation is that omega-3 reduce triglyceride levels. Another is that you body converts omega-3 to a compound similar to prostacyclin, a naturally occurring chemical that inhibits the formation of blood clots.

Omega-3 also reduce the risk of "sudden death" heart attach. In the United States, about 250,000 people die each year from sudden cardiac failure caused by ventricular fibrillation, an unexpectedly irregular heartbeat. A 1995 study from the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (Adelaide), showed that laboratory monkeys fed omega-3 oils from fish had a steady heartbeat when exposed to electrical current twice as powerful as that which caused ventricular fibrillation in animals that did not get the fish oils.

Omega-3 inhibit the production of leuketrienes, naturally occuring chemicals that trigger inflammation. This may be beneficial to people with rheumatoid arthritis. In 1995, the Arthritis Foundation published the results of a study by Piet Geusens at the Catholic University in Pellenberg (Belgium) suggesting that patients who take omega-3 fatty acid supplements along with their regular arthritis medications have improved pain relief. Previous study had demonstrated the omega-3 ability to reduce inflammation, joint stiffness and swelling.

Finally, like isoflavones, omega-3 may protect bone density. One 1997 study at Purdue University (Indiana) demonstrated that animals fed increased amounts of the omega-3 fatty acids formed new bone faster than animals fed a regular diet.

Cindy is the host of http://www.asianonlinerecipes.com, a Free Asian Recipes website dedicated to all things on Asian Cooking and Culinary Guide with thousands of Cooking Tips.

Besides, she is also the co-host for http://www.vietnamese-recipes.com and http://www.asianhomerecipe.com.

---

Nutrient Requirements of Women in Sport

Female and male athletes respond to training in a fairly... Read More

Garlic - Join Me And I´ll Show You Why Garlic Can Save Your Life

Are you worried yet about your health? Are you anxious... Read More

Are Your Cells Talking To Each Other?

Are Your Cells Talking To Each Other?Communication! It permeates our... Read More

Is Dr. Arthur Agatston Fearing the Loss of Popularity of South Beach Diet?

Dr. Arthur Agatston, the cardiologist who developed South Beach Diet... Read More

How Does Glucosamine Chondroitin Help Your Body?

Glucosamine is readily produced in the human body and is... Read More

Protein Wont Make You Fat: Myth #1

How many magazines have you read where they tell you... Read More

A Heart Healthy Diet Makeover

Heart Disease remains the number one cause of death in... Read More

Fighting Burn-out: Natural Help For Stress, Fatigue and Adrenal Insufficiency

The adrenal or "stress glands" are small, triangular shaped glands... Read More

Go Nuts!

Nuts of all kinds (I am talking peanuts, cashews etc)... Read More

Acid and Digestive Disorders: Breaking the Vicious Circle

THE RISKThe primary symptom of acid reflux is obvious to... Read More

Anti oxidants ? Why Its a Must in Your Diet

While oxygen is the key to human survival, it is... Read More

Glorious Summer Greens

Summer brings a lot of fantastic things with it, but... Read More

Ever Hear of This Fruit?

I want to tell you about the most healthful and... Read More

Vegetarian Lifestyle

Being vegetarian is one of the greatest things in the... Read More

Confessions of a Personal Fitness Trainer

Last year I had a number of clients who started... Read More

Oat Bran Can Help Prevent High Cholesterol

The natural antioxidants in Oat Bran can significantly reduce blood... Read More

The Benefits of Iodine

Initially discovered as a new element in 1811 by Barnard... Read More

Just The Tea FAQs: Health Benefits (Part III)

The wonders of modern science continue to amaze us with... Read More

Just How Dangerous Are Splenda and Artificial Sweeteners - Which Side is Spinning?

There seems to be fairly poor tracking by any formal... Read More

How The Food Industry Influences Nutrition and Health

When was the last time you consumed soda? Most likely,... Read More

Do You Know Your Bodys ph And Its Relation To Your Health

Do you know your ph? By getting ph strips at... Read More

Blood Type and Diet

Eating right to suit your blood type" is a subject... Read More

Take Back Your Life 7

In parts 1-6 of this series of articles titled "Take... Read More

Body Calling: Maintaining Excellent Health

Our bodies are truly incredible machines. What makes cells healthy?... Read More

The Face of the Waters

The story of creation begins with water. Water is an... Read More

Fighting Fatigue and the American Diner Breakfast

(Part 1 of a Special 5 Part Series on Body... Read More

Lesser of Two Evils: Splenda or Equal?

While packages of the artificial sweetener Splenda claim, "made from... Read More

Learn the Basics of a Successful Low Cholesterol Diet

Understanding What a Low Cholesterol Diet isBasically, in order to... Read More

Put a Zing in your Step with Ginger!

Zingiber officinale has been held in the highest regard by... Read More

pH and Weight Loss

THE RISKNo doubt you've heard of the increasingly popular "raw... Read More

Fruit for Breakfast ? The Secret to a Healthy Life

Do you want more energy? How about more of the... Read More

Fibromyalgia: How Simple Sugars Turned Fatigue into Energy

Several years ago, Marilyn M. couldn't even spell fibromyalgia.Now she... Read More

Nutrition - Its Whats Eating You That Counts

"It's not what you eat, it's what's eating you that... Read More