More and more, inflammation has been implicated as the culprit in heart and blood vessel diseases, making anti-inflammatory agents such as the omega-3 fats found in fish of interest to researchers.

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have been shown to play an important role in supporting cardiovascular health.  Lower-than-normal levels of omega-3s were found in people who have suffered vision loss and brain damage as a result of disease in the artery that carries blood from the body to the head and neck (the carotid artery).

 

Plaques – Not Good for the Arteries

Atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, is characterized by plaque formation in the artery walls. The cap of an atherosclerotic plaque can break away from the vessel wall, travel in the blood, and become lodged in a smaller artery: traveling plaques within the coronary arteries can cause a heart attack.  Breakaway plaques from the carotid arteries tend to block small arteries in the brain, leading to vision loss, a condition that sometimes precedes a stroke, known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA), or stroke.

 

Low Omega-3s Associated with More Symptoms

Carotid artery plaques from 41 people having surgery to have them removed were analyzed for signs of inflammation and for their fatty acid makeup.  Plaques from people with symptoms of vision loss and/or stroke had a higher degree of inflammation and lower levels of EPA and DHA, the two major omega-3 fatty acids from fish, than plaques from people with no symptoms.  Levels of omega-6 fatty acids, which are generally considered to be inflammatory, were the same in symptomatic and asymptomatic people.

 

More Might be the Answer!

These current results suggest that omega-3 fatty acids from fish might prevent stroke, adding to the evidence from a number of previous studies showing that omega-3 fatty acid consumption prevents cardiovascular disease.

 

Here are some ways to get more in your diet:

— Eat two, 3-ounce servings of fatty fish per week (Salmon, Tuna, Herring, and Mackerel)

— Include plant sources of omega-3 fatty acids such as non-defatted flax meal, walnuts, and oils from soy, canola, walnut, and flaxseed.  These foods can increase levels of the beneficial EPA, and, unlike fish, are generally free of heavy metals and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyl)

— If you have heart disease or a high risk of heart disease, consider taking a daily fish oil supplement that provides1 to 1.8 grams of omega-3 fatty acids

 

Our Innate Choice Omega Sufficiency oil and capsules provide a healthy dose of EPA and DHA Omega-3 Fatty Acids in easy-to-take formats. Each teaspoon of lemon-flavoured oil provides a high-quality 1.2 grams of EPA and DHA, while taking 4 of the capsules daily will provide the same.

Innate Choice Omega Sufficiency sources their fish oil from wild, cold-water fish which has been organically triple filtered, is 3rd Party Tested and is Pharmaceutical Grade.

 

Your heart, and your loved ones, will thank you for doing everything you can to live a healthy & happy life.