Head-to-Toe Effects of Omega-3s
Omega-3’s help practically every part of your body. Here is just a short overview of the incredible effects of omega-3s.
Effects of Omega-3s on your heart
Omega-3s stabilize the buildup of plaque on the walls of the arteries, preventing hardening of arteries and subsequent rising blood pressure. These flexible fats accomplish this by relaxing blood vessels and speeding blood flow. Consumers of omega-3s tend to have lower resting heart rates and healthier hearts.
Omega-3s build smarter brains and better moods
By improving the structural components of the cell membrane, omega-3s help the functioning of brain tissue and consequently build better brain cells. They also promote cell growth in the hippocampus and help prevent depression; boost dopamine receptors to combat stress hormones; and feed high-need cells of the retina to improve vision.
Effects of Omega-3 during pregnancy and your child’s infancy
Cytokines are proinflammatory, protective biochemicals that build up during the final trimester of a woman’s pregnancy. While cytokines are good for the immune system, they can produce abnormalities in sleep and energy levels. High levels of omega-3s help women achieve equilibrium and balance cytokine levels during their pregnancy.
Research has shown that there is a positive correlation between breastfeeding and a child’s IQ. Mothers who increase their omega-3 intake have a higher amount of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in their breast milk, which builds IQ-boosting DHA in babies’ brain tissue.
Effects of Omega-3s on weight loss and keeping you young
Most people think of oil as unhealthy, but omega-3 oils are among the healthiest foods in the world. Unlike omega-6 oils—the kind found in factory-processed foods, which lead to high blood pressure and high blood sugar—omega-3 oils reduce the complications of obesity and curb the upsurge in inflammation-causing chemicals.
Omega-3s also do an excellent job of combating ailments of aging, including a weak immune system, joint stiffness, and frail bones. This can be partially attributed to their ability to preserve the length of telomeres, which protect the ends of chromosomes and gradually shorten as one ages. Telomeres tend to be longer in seniors who have incorporated omega-3s into their diets, and omega-3s can even increase the percentage of telomere-lengthening enzymes.
For more information about the effects of omega-3s, check out The Omega-3 Effect, by Dr. Bill and Dr. Jim.
Dr. Sears, or Dr. Bill as his “little patients” call him, has been advising busy parents on how to raise healthier families for over 40 years. He received his medical training at Harvard Medical School’s Children’s Hospital in Boston and The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, the world’s largest children’s hospital, where he was associate ward chief of the newborn intensive care unit before serving as the chief of pediatrics at Toronto Western Hospital, a teaching hospital of the University of Toronto. He has served as a professor of pediatrics at the University of Toronto, University of South Carolina, University of Southern California School of Medicine, and University of California: Irvine. As a father of 8 children, he coached Little League sports for 20 years, and together with his wife Martha has written more than 40 best-selling books and countless articles on nutrition, parenting, and healthy aging. He serves as a health consultant for magazines, TV, radio and other media, and his AskDrSears.com website is one of the most popular health and parenting sites. Dr. Sears has appeared on over 100 television programs, including 20/20, Good Morning America, Oprah, Today, The View, and Dr. Phil, and was featured on the cover of TIME Magazine in May 2012. He is noted for his science-made-simple-and-fun approach to family health.