The Fat That Could Save Your Life - Are You Getting Enough?

Times are changing and gone are the days where fat was viewed as the enemy. Now we know very well that fat can fuel the body and serve to provide many health benefits as well.

This said, it all does come down to which type of fat you’re eating. Eat the wrong fats and you’ll actually do yourself a disservice and cause health problems.

Eat the right fat and it’s going to do wonders for your health and well-being. Today we’re here to talk about one fat in particular that you definitely need to get on the bandwagon with if you aren’t already. That fat? Omega-3 fatty acids.

This is the fat that can literally save lives. Let’s take a closer look at how this fat will help you and why you should be including it in your diet plan.

Reduced Inflammation

The first big benefit you’ll get with adding omega-3 fatty acids to your diet plan is lowered levels of inflammation. You might think inflammation is a good thing - and over the short term, it is.

If you get injured, inflammation is what will help you heal as quickly as you possibly can. When inflammation occurs systematically however and hangs out in the body for a longer period of time, that’s when bigger problems arise.

Inflammation is often at the heart of many diseases including diabetes, heart disease and possibly even stroke as well.

The better you can control your inflammation, the healthier you will be. 

Reduced Insulin Resistance

Next, fish oil can also help you reduce the chances that you experience insulin resistance as well. Insulin resistance is a situation that is often brought on by a poor diet with too many refined foods and lack of exercise.

When it gets bad enough, it can also lead to diabetes as well as a rapid increase in bodyweight, which eventually leads to heart health problems as well.

The best way to manage insulin resistance is to exercise regularly and ensure you’re getting enough healthy fats without processed carbohydrates. Fish oil is one of the best supplements you can take to help improve your insulin sensitivity.

Lower Risk of Diabetes

Which now brings us to our next point, by adding more omega-3 fatty acids to your diet plan, you’ll also gain better control over your insulin sensitivity, which can then be linked to a lower risk of diabetes.

Those who consume fatty fish or supplement with a fish oil product regularly are almost always guaranteed to experience a lower risk of diabetes provided they aren’t also loading up on processed carbs. 

What many people don’t realize is that diabetes is something that’s often very controllable if you put the right measures in place. We often think that diabetes just happens to us but that isn’t the case. You have the power to avoid it. We are seeing a dramatic rise in diabetes cases worldwide and this is largely due to the changes we have made to how we lead our lives. 

Improved Immune Response

Your immune system is critical to your health and something not to take for granted. It’s easy to not think too much about your immune system on a day to day basis when you’re otherwise healthy because really, what is there to worry about? 

But when you fall ill, your immune system matters. The stronger it is, the better your chances will be to put up a fight against whatever is trying to take you down.

There are many things you can be doing to help improve your immune system and some of the most important include eating enough fatty fish, getting enough sleep at night, eating a diet full of antioxidant rich foods (fruits and vegetables), as well as getting regular, but not too much exercise. Do all of these things and you’ll be well on your way to success.

Decreased Risk Factor For Depression 

Depression is a very real condition that impacts many people worldwide. Sadly, it’s also a condition that we tend to sweep under the rug, never talking about. 

Many people are suffering from mild cases of depression in silence because they just aren’t brave enough to step out and ask for the help they need or might not even be aware they have the symptoms associated with very mild depression.

If you feel like you might be suffering from depression or know someone who is, don’t forget that depression can actually be helped through many natural means.

Doing things like regular exercise, getting some natural daylight regularly (being in artificial light all day can have depressive effects on some people) as well as eating enough omega-3 fatty acids can all help protect yourself.

Don’t take this to mean that you don’t need to seek out professional treatment if you are suffering from true depression, but rather, take it to mean that fish oil may help supplement whatever treatment you are using or help to prevent depression from coming on entirely in some cases.

Reduced Occurrence Of Age Related Cognitive Decline 

Finally, the last benefit you’ll receive from taking fish oil regularly is a lower risk of cognitive decline with age. It’s natural for the brain to suffer wear and tear as you get older. It’s how you deal with this that is important. 

Eating the right foods can provide a layer of protection for the brain, helping to minimize the risk of damage due to oxidation.

Fish oil helps provide this protection so it’s certainly something to worth looking into. It’s proven to help improve memory and enhance cognitive processing skills.

Most people are simply not getting enough omega-3 fatty acids into their diet alone. That’s why supplementation is key. A good fish oil supplement taken on a daily basis provides the assurance you need to know that your health is protected.

It’s great to eat foods like salmon, mackerel, flaxseeds, and walnuts to boost your intake of omega-3 fatty acids but on those days you aren’t getting these in, make sure you aren’t missing out.