Benefits of Omega-3 that you should Definitely Know

Javier Colomer 6 min. of reading Fats Leave a comment

The term “fat” tends to be related to something harmful or bad. However, some types of fat are healthy. For example, one of them is Omega-3, a group of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids. Actually, the body cannot synthesize them on its own, which is why we have to obtain them from food or supplementation. In this article, we are mainly going to talk about the benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids.

Index

1 Benefits of Omega-3 that you not miss
2 Who can benefit from taking Omega-3?
3 What are its effects on the sport performance?

Benefits of Omega-3 that you not miss

Did you know that there are more and more studies every day that support the benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids for different people? In fact, athletes can also benefit from including them in their diet due to their anti-inflammatory action and their positive effects on the sport performance.

Some of the benefits of Omega-3 are:

Relieving any type of inflammation. Therefore, it is advisable to take it in order to prevent and relieve allergies, asthma and eczema.
Reducing the triglyceride levels and increasing the HDL or “good cholesterol”, lowering the risk of heart attack.
Improving the cartilage and joint health.
Supporting the eye health and improving the sight of people of all ages. When it comes to the fetus, its intake on behalf of the mother will also improve its eye development.
Decreasing the chances of suffering cardiovascular pathologies. This effect is superior to any other medicine.
Playing a crucial role in the brain development. A study conducted on children concluded that those who take Omega-3 have more mental and visual acuity. Therefore, it means that they are smarter than those who do not take these fatty acids.

Children playing

Supporting the hormone balance, encouraging and deep and restful sleep. This results in us feeling energized and full of vitality.
Increasing the intellectual performance and coefficient.
Helping to preserve the memory for longer in the case of the elderly.
Fighting against Alzheimer’s disease.
Buffering the effects of multiple sclerosis.
Preserving the permeability of the cell walls.
Relieving the symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Dealing with depression, since it is a natural antidepressant.
Balancing the testosterone levels.
Reducing the inflammation in the lungs and dealing with allergies, asthma and eczema.

Did you think that was all? Have some more!

Helping to reduce the growth of cancerous cells. Therefore, it supports the treatment of prostate cancer, colorectal cancer and breast cancer.
Stop the aging process, by improving the hormone levels and the joint health. Moreover, they are a formidable sport supplement that shortens the recovery after a hard treatment.
Treating obesity, have you not heard about Omega-3 and its properties for weight loss?

Improving the ability of the cells to respond to insulin, stimulating the production of leptin. This hormone is in charge of regulating the intake of food, the weight and body metabolism. Moreover, it is related to the amount of fatty cells or adipocytes.
Regulating the blood pressure. Unlike what happens with medicines that increase the blood pressure, Omega-3 fatty acids lower the blood pressure naturally. It may take more time in order to benefit from their effects, but they will not trigger side effects either.
Encouraging a better mood, making us feel more optimistic and preventing the onset of mental diseases.
Preventing the onset of cardiovascular problems, as well as the fat deposits in the arteries and the formation of platelets by the endothelial cells or arterial lining.
Crossing the blood-brain barrier, which is proof of its antioxidant properties.
Decreasing the platelet adherence as well as the chances of suffering cardiovascular accidents caused by blood clots in the brain.
Increasing the concentration of good eicosanoids (prostaglandin F2a and thromboxane B2) while reducing the harmful triglycerides.
Lowering the production of cytokines associated with anti-inflammatory reactions that increase the chances of suffering arteriosclerosis.
Stimulating the activity of the prostaglandins produced by the endothelial cells, helping to relax and dilate the arteries.

Who can benefit from taking Omega-3?

There are many pathologies or situations that can improve thanks to taking Omega-3. Here you have a list with the main ones!

Cardiovascular diseases
Rheumatic diseases
Joint pain and osteoarthritis
Hypertension
Eczema, psoriasis, dry skin and itchiness
Huntington disease
Migraines
Lupus
Pregnancy and lactation
Osteoporosis
Stress
Concentration problems
Bipolar disorders
Alzheimer’s disease
Depression
Bowel inflammatory disease
Cancer
Obesity (Omega-3 to lose weight)
Multiple sclerosis
Raynaud syndrome
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Type II diabetes
To prevent arteriosclerosis, hypertension and dementia

What are its effects on the sport performance?

It is becoming more and more common to take Omega-3 supplementation in sports. A good dietary planning will definitely improve your performance, specially to balance the insulin levels. This hormone is in charge of many inflammatory processes, regulating the appetite and storing body fat.

When the insulin is not balanced, athletes will experience that: it will inhibit the growth hormone, lower the blood glucose levels and the access to the fat reserves, transport less oxygen and increase the body fat.

What are the objectives of Omega-3 supplement in sport?

Increasing the strength and aerobic performance
Relieving the joint inflammation and reduce the number of injuries
Improving the oxidative response
Improving the lung capacity and cell oxygenation
Sharpening the focus and improving the reflexes
Shortening our reactions to stimuli

Omega-3 has many benefits for our health. Either if you do exercise or not, including it in your diet will definitely improve your well-being thanks to its incredible properties.

If you enjoyed the content from this article, keep reading…