Omega-3 Fatty Acids...

Omega-3 fatty acids. What are those? Do they have something to do with Omega? No, that’s just part of their names. What they really are are essential fats and acids the body needs. This important nutrient can help lower blood pressure according to a study that took place in Dallas. Many people between the ages of 20 and 60, a great percent of them actually, have an increase in their blood pressure. By middle age, most of those people have a high blood pressure. Dr. Jeremiah Stamler, a professor of medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago, was one of the people part of this study. Stamler says that omega-3 fatty acids might be a small, but important step in preventing the rise in blood pressure. This study examined the diet and the relations to blood pressure from the diet in 4, 680 men and women, ranging from the ages of 40 to 59, in four different countries, Japan, China, Britain, and the United States. All the men and women studied gave thorough details about their diet and alcohol consumption, gave their urine samples, and their blood pressure was checked twice each at their four study visits. Afterwards, the scientists got together 17 variables that affect one’s blood pressure. A couple of these variables were age, gender, weight, salt intake, diet, and exercise. The people whose diet consisted of more omega-3 fatty acids had a somewhat lower blood pressure, most of them did, than those who had less of the nutrient in their diet. Dr. Hirotsugu Ueshima of Shiga University of Medical Science in Otsu, Japan says that every millimeter in blood pressure counts because the effect of all nutrients is small but very significant, so all the effects make a very good impact on your body. He also said eating less salt, losing some weight, avoiding excess drinking, eating more vegetables, whole grains and fruits, and getting more omega-3 fatty acids will help make a big difference in your body. For your information, some sources you find omega-3 fatty acids in are fish, nuts, and seeds. All fish and nuts don’t have the same amount of this nutrient in them. Fattier fish, some examples are salmon, mackerel, and trout, are richer in this nutrient. In addition, walnuts, flaxseed and canola oil are some other foods and oils that have a good amount of omega-3 fatty acids. People who were provided with their omega-3 fatty acids from these sources got as much of the nutrient as eating fish. Getting a fair amount of omega-3 fatty acids has also helped better brain development and a lower overall risk of breast cancer.

I think this was very interesting to read about because it helps you prevent some of the risk of getting high blood pressure when you are older. I love when articles are written about how to avoid body problems. This is just one of those articles that will help you prepare for the latter part of you life, like a list of dos and don'ts. Here is an example list

PREVENTING HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE:

What to do: get a good amount of omega-3 fatty acids, exercise, healthy diet, control drinking

What not to do: eat lots of salt, binge drink, not eating enough fruits and vegetables

SOURCE: MSNBC

HYPERLINK: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19047961/

PICTURE from: (click on picture to see a larger image) http://www.through-the-maze.org.uk/symbols_x4/blood_pressure.gif