The Cold, hard facts about omega-3 essential fatty acid
by Eric Robert Santiago on 07/10/12
Over 19,000 scientific articles examine the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids. For more than 20 years, researchers have conducted studies with over 10,000 people to see how omega-3s—namely eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)—may help maintain health and prevent disease. And it really all began in the early 1970s when Danish researchers went to Greenland to discover how an Eskimo tribe eating a high fat/choleterol diet could still be so much healthier heartwise than those consuming a Western diet. The difference was healthy omega-3s from seafood. This also may explain why Japan and Iceland—where more marine fatty acids are consumed—enjoy extended health as well.
EPA/DHA consumption may be the key for healthy aging. The strongest evidence for EPA/DHA intake is for supporting heart health and reducing risk of serious cardiac events—and is recommended by the American Heart Association. EPA and DHA also have anti-inflammatory effects and may be suggested as adjunctive therapies for autoimmune disorders like inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis (to relieve joint stiffness/tenderness). These omega-3s have also demonstrated benefits in helping reduce age-related macular degeneration and dementia to promote healthy aging. And preliminary studies have shown promise in supporting a postive mood.
How much EPA/DHA is right for you? Depending on your health goals, concentrated doses of EPA and/or DHA may be recommended. And here, perhaps more than anywhere else, is where supplement quality really counts due to public warnings about consuming polluted marine life.
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