It’s time to start sprinkling flaxseed on your cereal (or oatmeal) and adding more fish and walnuts to your diet. Like, today.
Cardiologists are absolutely in love with omega 3 fatty acids. Found in fatty fish like salmon and mackerel, flaxseed, canola oil, and walnuts – they protect your heart against inflammation that causes blocked arteries, irregular heartbeats and can lead to heart attacks.
Now there’s growing evidence that they avert strokes, increase energy, ward off complications from diabetes, and reduce inflammation and joint pain from arthritis. Omega 3s are also used to treat depression and Alzheimer’s disease.
On a less important, but rather agreeable, note, they also strengthen fingernails and improve your skin.
HOWEVER, when using salmon to up your omega 3 intake – consider this alarming health risk: Data suggests that the salmon most of us eat and trust can actually pose a health risk. Farmed salmon are raised on fish oil pellets derived from local fish – which are often contaminated with cancer-causing PCBs. The most recent study in the Journal of Nutrition (Nov. 2005) reports that contaminant levels in farmed salmon from certain regions increase the risk of cancer enough to outweigh benefits.
Experts advise people who are now leary of farmed salmon (I’m now in that group!) to use canned salmon instead – it’s usually made from wild salmon.
Omega 3 fatty acids are also found (to a less degree) in leafy green vegetables like broccoli, brussels sprouts, and spinach, as well as in tofu. You might also want to watch your grocer’s shelves. New sources are coming out nearly every day: free range/grass-fed beef, enhanced eggs, baby food and cereal.
Of course, there are also omega 3 supplements from fish oil or flax…..but, experts warn that taking too much in the form of supplements can be unhealthy. They point out, also, that benefits are the strongest when derived from foods.
I’m not at all an expert, but my own opinion is that too many people are relying too strongly on supplements, when they should be concentrating more on a healthier diet. Chasing down a double cheeseburger, Pepsi, and fries with a vitamin may be fooling the mind, but it isn’t fooling the body.
It’s definitely time to get serious about what and how we eat.
Joi
P.S. Flaxseed sprinkled on cereal gives it a nutty taste that’s actually pretty darned good. I’ve never tried it on oatmeal, but I’ve read that it’s good, especially with a little honey.
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