Fish and Omega 3
Healthy people should eat omega-3 fatty acids
from fish and plant sources to protect their hearts, according to
updated recommendations by the American Heart Association.
"Omega-3 fatty acids are not just good fats; they affect heart
health in positive ways," says Penny Kris-Etherton, Ph.D., R.D.,
lead author of a report published in the Nov. 18, 2002, issue of
Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Omega-3 fatty acids make the blood less likely to form clots that
cause heart attack, and they protect against irregular heartbeats
that cause sudden cardiac death, the report says.
Kris-Etherton and colleagues examined the health benefits of
omega-3 fatty acids in the context of cardiovascular disease (CVD)
risk reduction and considered the recent Environmental Protection
Agency and Food and Drug Administration guidance about the presence
of contaminants in certain species of fish.
Since 2000, the American Heart Association's dietary guidelines
have recommended that healthy adults eat at least two servings of
fish per week, particularly fish such as mackerel, lake trout, herring,
sardines, albacore tuna and salmon.
These fish contain two omega-3 fatty acids--eicosapentaenoic and
docosahexaenoic acids (EPA and DHA). A third kind, alpha-linolenic
acid, is less potent and comes from plants, including tofu and other
forms of soybeans, and nuts and seeds and their oils, including
canola, walnut and flaxseed oils.
People who have elevated triglycerides may need two grams to four
grams of EPA and DHA per day provided as a supplement, according
to the new guidelines.
Those taking more than three grams of omega-3 fatty acids from
supplements should do so only under a physician's care. The FDA
has noted that high intakes could cause excessive bleeding in some
people.
The mechanisms responsible for omega-3 fatty acids' reduction of
CVD risk are still being studied, and include decreases in triglyceride
levels and blood clots, lower risk of sudden death, improved arterial
health, and lower blood pressure.
This article was originally published in the FDA Consumer
and may be republished without permission.
Disclaimer: The information
that I am writing on these pages are for educational purposes only,
and are intended to inspire us to learn more about Coronary artery
disease. By doing so we can learn how to eliminate the leading cause
of death, and create a better life for us and our children. I am
only a patient, in no way should what I am writing, replace any
medical advice given to you by your doctors.
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