Omega 3 and Metabolic Health

Omega-3 are essential fatty acids and getting sufficient Omega-3 fatty acid levels are a pillar of maintaining your brain, heart and immune health.  ~ Sports Research

Omega-3 are an essential fatty acids that our bodies cannot produce and have been linked to many health benefits and is necessary for many metabolic processes. In particular, omega 3 may help promote brain and heart health, reduce inflammation, and protect against several chronic conditions.

There are three main types of omega 3 fatty acids:

  • lpha-linolenic acid (ALA),
  • eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and
  • docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

Many studies show that eating fatty fish and other types of seafood as part of a healthy eating pattern helps keep your heart healthy and helps protect you from some heart problems, according to the National Institute of Health’s Fact Sheet for Consumers of Omega-3 Fatty Acids.

Getting more EPA and DHA from foods or dietary supplements lowers triglyceride levels, and may promote brain health.

Decades ago, researchers observed that fish-eating communities had very low rates of metabolic diseases. This was later linked to omega-3 consumption.

Since then, omega-3 fatty acids have been tied to numerous benefits for heart health.

These benefits include:

  • Triglycerides: Omega-3s can significantly reduce levels of triglycerides.
  • HDL cholesterol: Some older studies suggest that omega-3s could raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels.
  • Blood clots: Omega-3s can keep blood platelets from clumping together. This helps prevent the formation of harmful blood clots, according to some older research.
  • Inflammation: Omega-3s reduce the production of some substances released during your body’s inflammatory response.

Our metabolism is defined by a complex series of chemical reactions that occur throughout our whole body, in all our tissues, all the time, to keep us up and running. Our metabolism breaks down nutrients into smaller, bite-size molecules that our cells can use for all kinds of good things, including generating energy and allowing cells to communicate with each other.

Metabolism also includes building larger molecules that our bodies can use to form tissues and perform more complex functions that make our bodies smarter, faster, and healthier.

Thus, your metabolism is a fully functioning factory that takes nutrients in and turns them into, well…you. Your metabolism takes place on a cellular level. Your cells make up tissues, that make up organs, that make up entire bodily systems. When something goes wrong with your metabolism, there’s a domino effect that can add up to some pretty significant issues.

When we’re younger, our metabolism runs like a well-oiled machine. Unfortunately, as we age, our metabolism slows, resulting in an increasingly poorly functioning factory that produces an increasingly less-healthy you

Metabolic syndrome is a term for a group of conditions that place you at a higher risk of developing heart disease and stroke. These include:

  • Excess weight, which can lead to obesity(especially around the midsection)
  • Insulin resistance, which can lead to diabetes and fatty liver disease
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol

These conditions can also cause chronic, low-level inflammation, which researchers now believe is a major underlying cause of many age-related illnesses and diseases.

It goes without saying that diet and exercise are important, but in terms of your metabolic health, they’re incredibly crucial.

Proper diet and exercise are at the foundation of any healthy lifestyle.

Your heart is a muscle, and just like any muscle, you should exercise it. You should aim to dedicate at least 30 minutes a day to movement and exercise.

And, a proper diet includes prioritizing your veggies, eating your whole grains, and choosing lean meats and poultry. Try to reduce your intake of salt, sugar, refined carbs and “unhealthy fats” such as those found in butter, fried food, processed snack foods, and red meat.


References:

  1. https://sportsresearch.com/blogs/wellness/daily-habits-for-a-healthy-heart
  2. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Omega3FattyAcids-Consumer/#h1
  3. https://fatty15.com/blogs/news/promoting-your-metabolic-health-a-focus-on-pentadecanoic-acid-c15-0
  4. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/17-health-benefits-of-omega-3#TOC_TITLE_HDR_5

Turmeric Natural Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Turmeric is derived from a plant similar to ginger and has long been used for medicinal purposes. “Turmeric has natural anti-inflammatory compounds called curcuminoids, and these curcuminoids have been associated with a positive effect on various diseases,” says Anya Guy, a Mayo Clinic dietitian. Those diseases include Type 2 diabetes, obesity, inflammatory bowel disease and cancer.

Curcumin anti-inflammatory properties make it a potential treatment for a number of health conditions, including reduced pain and increased ease of movement in people with osteoarthritis. One study found that taking turmeric extract three times daily was comparable to taking a 1,200-milligram dose of ibuprofen daily for arthritis pain. However, more research is necessary to confirm these effects.

In addition to its anti-inflammatory properties, research suggests that curcumin has many other health benefits. Among them are antioxidant, metabolic-regulating, antimicrobial, immune-modulating, mood-enhancing, neuroprotective and anti-cancer effects.

A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows curcumin, an active ingredient in turmeric, effectively kills certain cancer cells. While research continues on the role turmeric plays in treating cancer, preclinical studies demonstrate curcumin stops the growth of breast cancer cells in the laboratory, but it’s not known if this happens in humans since the body quickly breaks down curcumin, making it difficult to study. High-quality human studies are needed to confirm these findings, and guide effective and safe use of turmeric as a supplement.

Other research suggests that curcumin may reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels. In addition, it may lessen some of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, such as joint swelling and morning stiffness. Other areas of investigation include curcumin’s effect on Crohn’s disease, certain cancers, depression, diabetes, joint pain and irritable bowel syndrome.

When taken by mouth or applied to the skin, turmeric — and the curcumin it contains — appears to be generally safe when limited to less than 8 grams a day. That said, different amounts often are recommended depending on the health condition being addressed, and higher doses have been used for limited periods of time. High doses or long-term use may cause gastrointestinal upset for some people.

When ingested as a superfood or when turmeric is used as a spice in culinary cuisine, the curcumin it contains appears to be generally safe among cancer patients. But dietary food sources are different than turmeric supplements or when it is taken as a pill. There is little research to ensure turmeric supplements are safe when used in combination with cancer treatments, including surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.

The use of supplements, like turmeric, among cancer patients undergoing cancer treatment can be a concern. Supplements are not standardized like prescription medications, meaning the dose is not regulated and purity cannot be guaranteed. What you get may differ from bottle to bottle and among brands, and there can be variables depending on what specific part of the plant is used. Many supplements that have powerful anti-inflammatory effects, like turmeric, have blood-thinning properties, which can increase the risk of bleeding and cause complications around the time of surgery.


References:

  1. https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/home-remedies-are-there-health-benefits-of-turmeric/?mc_id=us&utm_source=newsnetwork&utm_medium=l&utm_content=content&utm_campaign=mayoclinic&geo=national&placementsite=enterprise&cauid=100721
  2. https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-q-and-a-turmeric-use-in-breast-cancer-treatment/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=sm&utm_content=post&utm_campaign=mayoclinic&geo=national&placementsite=enterprise&mc_id=us&cauid=100502&linkId=104085792&fbclid=IwAR3un2cLDzM1wrCo8KHjh7MBqDg28JMQa5xLWtBuUZdRL3cHSWyKLlTGwOo
  3. https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-q-and-a-turmerics-anti-inflammatory-properties-may-relieve-arthritis-pain/?mc_id=us&utm_source=newsnetwork&utm_medium=l&utm_content=content&utm_campaign=mayoclinic&geo=national&placementsite=enterprise&cauid=100721