Friday, December 16, 2011

Omega 3 From Plants - A Better Choice

Most people are aware of the benefits consuming omega 3 fatty acids rich aliments has on their health. When asked about the best omega 3 sources, invariable most of the people asked will answer that fish oil has the best concentration of essential fatty acids. But these people should know that a series of plants are also great omega 3 sources and some of them, such as flax and whole grains, may represent a better choice for fatty acids.

While they are very important to the body, omega 3 fats are unstable and can turn rancid very quickly. Whole grains also contain large amounts of Vitamin E, a vitamin which prevents the omega 3 fatty acids from turning rancid. Most Fish oil does not contain any Vitamin E and that is why it can turn rancid faster.

Ala

Many studies, including a prestigious one, such as The Lyon Heart Study, the GISSI Prevenzione Trial, and in The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Study, have proven omega 3's efficiency in preventing heart attacks and reducing pain in inflammatory diseases, such as arthritis or psoriasis.

There are other differences between the omega 3 fatty acids found in fish and those found in plants. Fish are rich in long chain fatty acids, while plants are rich in shorter chains fats. Long chain fatty acids which are extracted from fish are stronger, but the short chain fatty acids (mostly ALA - alpha - linolenic acid) obtained from green plants are transformed by the body in long chains fats. It is true however that the long chain fish omega 3 is more rapidly absorbed by the body and transported to the cells compared to short chain acids.

Given the differences between the two main sources of omega 3 fatty acids, it is important to increase both the amount of fish and the amount of vegetables in your diet, so you obtain the necessary quantities of fatty acids, and the vitamins which protect them.

When entered in the human body, omega 3 breaks down rapidly when exposed to the oxygen and large quantities of Vitamin E, found in plants, are necessary to prevent the fatty acids from turning rancid. Because of this, on the long term, your body will store more short chain omega 3 fatty acids obtained from vegetables than long chain fatty acids obtained from fish sources.

Omega 3 From Plants - A Better Choice

Ala

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