If you are interested in protecting your heart and avoiding chronic illness like heart disease then you need to learn about fish oil and how it may help your heart become healthier. Fish oil should be a part of your heart healthy diet and according to the American Heart Association, you should eat fish that contain fish oil at least two times per week in order to get the heart healthy benefits.
Fish Oil and Omega-3
Fish oil is good for your heart because it contains omega-3 fatty acids, which are healthy forms of dietary fat. Omega-3 fatty acids are considered essential fats that your body must have for many different body functions. The oils cannot be made by your body; you must get omega-3 fatty acids through your diet. The most common way to do this is to eat fatty cold-water fish that contain high levels of omega-3 fatty acids.
Fish Oil and Heart Health
The American Heart Association recommends that you include heart healthy omega-3 fatty acids in your diet because omega-3s can decrease the risk of arrhythmias, lower triglyceride levels, slow the growth rate of atherosclerotic plaque in your arteries and lower blood pressure. It further states that fish oil with omega-3 fatty acids can benefit both the hearts of healthy people as well as those with cardiovascular disease.
Sources
Omega-3 fats are found in fish oil from cold-water fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, halibut and mackerel, and they are also available as supplements. Omega-3 fatty acids are natural sources of healthy unsaturated fat and in addition to fish they can be found in plant form in some nuts and oils such as walnuts and flaxseed oil. The Harvard School of Public Health states that since marine forms of omega-3 deliver important health benefits you should eat fish twice weekly. Prepare 3.5 oz. servings, or 3/4 cup of flaked albacore tuna. Mackerel, salmon, lake trout, sardines and herring contain high values of omega-3 fatty acids.
Considerations
Heart health depends on many factors such as genetics, physical fitness, stress and your diet. Eating fish oil is a healthy lifestyle habit that you should make to protect your heart from heart disease. It will also provide the essential nutrition that it requires to function properly. Add salmon to your heart healthy diet. You should also consider adding a fish oil supplement to ensure that your body and heart receive proper nutrition each day.
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