Can a bowl of walnuts or a spoonful of fish oil consumed daily maintain healthy cholesterol levels? The answer is Yes; simple changes to your diet can keep your cholesterol under check and protect you from various diseases. Omega 3 Oils and cholesterol are interlinked in various ways.
Omega 3 fats or polyunsaturated fatty acids are essential for the healthy functioning of our body. They comprise of Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Omega 3 fatty acids cannot be synthesized within our body and must be obtained through our diet or supplements.
DHA and EPA are the long chain fatty acids that can be directly absorbed by our body. However, ALA fats need to be converted into EPA and DHA to be utilized by the body. Fish oils are the richest omega 3 source since they contain both EPA and DHA fats in high amounts.
It was in 1900s that omega 3 fatty acids were first discovered. Researchers observed that the rate of cardiovascular disorders in Eskimos was very low, inspite of their high consumption of fish and other seafood.
It was then found that Fish contains omega 3 which is very good for the heart and maintains the right cholesterol levels in the body. In today's times, eating fish regularly can be harmful due to the high mercury levels in oceans. An alternative to this are Fish oils.
Molecularly distilled fish oils are free of all toxins and provide the recommended omega 3 dosage. Molecular distillation is a refining process that removes all contaminants such as mercury, metals and PCBs from the fish oils and makes them safe for regular intake.
Before we discuss how fish oils lower cholesterol levels, we need to understand a few basics about Cholesterol.
There are two kinds of cholesterol - LDL or Bad cholesterol and HDL or Good cholesterol. The main culprit is LDL cholesterol that sticks on to the walls of the arteries and forms plaque. This results in blockage of arteries and leads to coronary heart diseases.
HDL cholesterol is the good cholesterol that is as important for our body as other nutrients. It performs various functions such as hormone production and secretion of bile salts. It even removes excess cholesterol from the body and sends it back to the liver to be excreted.
Omega 3 fatty acids lower the triglycerides or LDL cholesterol levels and increase the HDL cholesterol in the blood stream. This balances the cholesterol levels in our body and also prevents against cardiovascular disorders.
Fish oils are the richest source of EPA and DHA fats that can help in balancing the cholesterol levels in your body.
But you need superior quality supplements that have a high omega 3 content. Fish oils extracted from the Hoki fish have 40% higher DHA content. Hoki is a cold-water species found in New Zealand and has naturally high EPA and DHA levels.
Studies on omega-3-fish-benefits.com/Fish-oil-and-Cholesterol.html Omega 3 Oils and Cholesterol show that regular consumption of Pharmaceutical grade, molecularly distilled Fish oil keeps your cholesterol low and your heart healthy.
Micheal Thomas is an editor for a series of health related websites. Learn about the best fish oil capsules that we ourselves use daily after extensive product comparisons and research over at omega-3-fish-benefits.com omega-3-fish-benefits.com
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