Healthy Fats, Healthy You
Do you know that part of creating optimal health and weight loss is incorporating healthy fats such as omega 3 fats into your diet? Omega-3 fats are considered “Essential” fats or “Essential Fatty Acids.” They are essential to human health because they cannot be manufactured by the body. For this reason, they must be obtained from food.
Omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation in the body and help prevent chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, weight loss, diabetes, high blood pressure, Alzheimer’s disease and much more. They help to lower triglyceride levels and raise HDL cholesterol levels (good cholesterol that is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease), as well as lower LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease).
A recent study showed that Telomeres the protective caps on the ends of our DNA, actually lengthen with the use of fish oil – an omega 3 fat. Telomeres shorten every time a cell divides until there is no way to protect the DNA and the cell dies. Those with the longest Telomeres are the healthiest, fittest and most youthful individuals.
Dietary sources of Omega-3 fats include fatty fish such as salmon, cod, tuna, sardines, as well as flaxseed, soy and canola oils. Walnuts and pumpkin seeds are excellent sources as well. In addition to the dietary sources described, Omega 3 fats can be taken in the form of fish oil capsules.
Try to incorporate 2-3 servings of fatty fish per week. If you don’t care for fish, fish oil capsules are a great alternative. Make sure the fish oil supplement is a quality product that has been purified. The dosage should be 3,000 mg. daily.
Wisely selecting the “Good Fats” we consume is a key to unlocking the greatest gift of all – optimal health.