
Omega-3s
for Joint Pain and Much More
Omega-3s are a type of fat ESSENTIAL
for our bodies. However, our bodies cannot make these nutrients
by itself, we must get them from food sources like flax, green vegetables
and cold water fatty fish such as salmon, herring, mackerel and
sardines. And when our bodies are given the proper amounts of Omega-3s
we get amazing benefits as a result.
Omega-3s Reduce Joint Pain:Research
suggests that omega-3s reduce joint pain. Many people have experienced
amazing results and a lessening of joint pain from arthritis and
other injuries after taking omega-3s for as little as two weeks.
Dr. Joseph Maroon, neurosurgeon at the University of Pittsburgh,
spent 20 years biking, swimming, and running in triathlons, and
all of this movement eventually took a toll on his joints. This
is common with many athletes. While sports and exercise are good
for our bodies, it is easy to overuse your joints and end up with
pain and disability. Dr. Maroon had one knee in particular that
gave him a lot of trouble. He took so much Advil from the pain he
developed an ulcer. It was soon recommended that he get a full knee
replacement. After conducting his own research, Dr. Maroon discovered
fish oils and wondered if they could hold the answer to his joint
pain. Sure enough, soon after starting his fish oil supplements,
Dr. Maroon was able to get off all of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
medicine he had been taking.
How
Exactly Do Omega-3s Help With Joint Pain: Omega-3 fatty acids, specifically
the DHA and EPA inside them, work to block inflammation pathways
in the cell. And, they block not one, but multiple pathways in the
cell. Now, when it comes to the most common types of joint pain,
the inflammation in those joints is one of the common culprits.
Omega-3s Fight Depression and Memory Loss:
The next amazing health benefit you will start to see once you begin
taking omega-3s is better memory and cognitive function, and even
help against depression. Researchers have found that adding Omega-3s
into your diet has a profound benefit to your cognitive health,
because the human brain is made up of about 60% fat, and your cerebral
cortex is made up of about 15% DHA. The mechanism in play has to
do with keeping your nervous cells supple and soft rather than stiff,
and also in preventing inflammation in the brain. When the nerve
cells in your brain become stiff and hardened, it makes the normal
transmission of information from cell to cell more susceptible to
error. Studies are also finding that the older we get, the more
omega-3s are needed in order to keep the brain operating at optimum
levels and prevent mental decline. One study in particular showed
that mental decline and memory loss could be prevented, and in some
cases reversed, through supplementation with DHA, which is contained
within the omega-3s themselves. These DHA nutrients even have a
positive effect on mood and emotion. In fact, this is the reason
why an Omega-3 deficiency can lead to all kinds of depression-related
issues.
Omega-3s Keep Your Heart Healthy: Studies
suggest that the EPA and DHA found in fatty acids help reduce the
risk factors of heart disease, including high cholesterol. Fish
oil has also been shown to lower the risk of stroke and even abnormal
heart rhythms in individuals who have already had a heart attack.
Fish oil also helps prevent hardening of the arteries by slowing
the development of plaque and blood clots which can clog up the
arteries.
Omega-3s Naturally Lower Blood Pressure:
Several clinical studies suggest that diets rich in omega-3 fatty
acids lower blood pressure in people with hypertension. The studies
found that taking three or more grams of fish oil daily may reduce
blood pressure in people with untreated hypertension. According
to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMM), omega 3s may
also: " Improve cholesterol by decreasing triglycerides (the
bad cholesterol) and increasing HDL (the good cholesterol) levels.
These benefits come primarily from DHA and EPA. " Improve bone
health by positively impacting the body's calcium levels, thereby
reducing the incidence of bone loss, commonly known as osteoporosis.
" Improve skin conditions by helping to alleviate symptoms
related to certain disorders like acne and psoriasis. " Improve
bowel health by reducing inflammation of the bowels and helping
alleviate symptoms of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. "
Improve lung health by reducing inflammation in diseases like asthma.
" Reduce the pain associated with PMS and menstruation. "
Help prevent certain types of cancer. Colon, breast, and prostate
cancers have all been linked to low levels of omega-3s. If your
breakfast, lunch and dinner resemble those of the average adult
in the United States, you are very likely to be deficient in omega-3s.
Your best way to solve this problem is to eat more nuts (peanuts
aren't a great choice - try eating walnuts and Brazil nuts) and
seeds (like flaxseeds and chia seeds). You may also want to consider
eating cold-water fish like salmon, sardines, and cod two to three
times per week. And you can also consider making the switch to eating
grass-fed beef and other pasture-raised foods including meats, cheeses,
yogurt and eggs.
Alternatively,
there are many good supplements on the market that are convenient
and work just as well as consuming these foods - but it's important
to pick the right one (something we will definitely help you with
in our next few blog posts, so stay tuned!) If you suffer from joint
pain, memory problems, hypertension, mood disorders, skin problems
or a whole host of other problems: it's important to know that fatty
acids, like omega-3, can bring tremendous benefits to your health
and may just be the answer you're looking for.
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NOTE:
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS MAY VARY. STATEMENTS IN THIS WEBSITE HAVE NOT
BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THE FDA DOES
NOT EVALUATE OR TEST HERBS AND HEALTH FOODS. THESE PRODUCTS ARE
NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE , TREAT, CURE OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE. FOR
DIAGNOSIS OR TREATMENT CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN. USE HERBS IN MODERATION
AND WATCH FOR ALLERGIC REACTIONS. REMEMBER THAT DIET, EXERCISE AND
RELAXATION ARE EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO YOUR HEALTH. HomeLand
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