Tuesday, March 1, 2011

The Benefits of Omega 3 Fatty Acids - Healthy Fats to Include in Your Diet

The known health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids are vast and ever increasing. Incorporating food rich in omega-3 such as salmon, tuna, and even some nuts, helps to give your workout nutrition a much needed boost. Despite the fact that our society has been told that we should eliminate fats from our diets if they we are to lose weight, the body does need a certain amount of daily fat in order to function properly. What is important to realize, however, is that there are good fats and bad fats. Omega-3 is a very good fat.
Omega-3 for Optimum Workouts:
Proper circulation is so very important, particularly in the midst of a workout. Omega-3s have been proven to improve and increase circulation, moving your blood to the muscles that need it during a workout, and thereby helping your body to burn more fat. Additionally, omega-3 aides in liver function and gives you a boost in energy, so it’s the perfect workout nutrition to indulge in prior to a session.
Omega-3 for Fat Loss:
Stress causes the body to produce the hormone cortisol, which causes the body to store fat. Omega-3s essentially shut down the production of this hormone, or at least control it to a level that won’t cause your body to hold on to fat.  That’s not to say that if you comprise your entire diet from omega-3 rich foods that the pounds will just melt off of you.  We all should adhere to a sensible, well balanced diet, particularly when it comes to workout nutrition.  It is important to be properly fueled if you are going to make any progress with your exercise routine.   This means you can add Omega-3 rich foods to your diet to reduce the amount of new fat that is stored.
Omega-3 fats also help to regulate your blood sugar levels and the production of insulin. This helps to make your metabolism more efficient and burns the calories you ingest rather than holding on to them for fat storage. The best way to lose weight is to combine diet and exercise properly. Ideally, you should find workout nutrition that will boost your energy and stamina for exercise while providing your body with additional weight loss benefits. Omega-3s do just that as it blocks the body’s storage of fat.
Other Omega-3 Benefits:
There are so many health benefits to list about Omega 3’s, so let’s touch on a few briefly. Omega-3’s have excellent cardiovascular benefits, decreasing the risk of heart attacks or sudden cardiac arrest. They improve circulation, reducing the risk of blood clots and even help to lower blood pressure to a small degree. Omega-3s are good for reducing the likelihood of a stroke.  These fats are also excellent for expecting mothers and developing infants. Finally, Omega-3’s give the brain a bit of a boost with improved mental function and calming characteristics. You could definitely say that on top of being a great addition to your workout nutrition, Omega-3’s are definitely a powerhouse for your overall health!
By Daniela Vannucchi

1 comment:

  1. Including healthy fats in your diet can definitely help support your health. They can also help in weight loss. Thanks for the info. I suggest that you also include vitamins and supplements in your diet; check Supplements Canada now.

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