Omega-3 Benefits: 9 Healthy Reasons to Include it in Your Diet

Omega-3 fatty acids, also known as polyunsaturated fatty acids are absolutely crucial for your health - They boost your metabolism, help the body fight inflammation, reduce stiffness and joint pain, and also help lower the risk of heart disease. Omega-3 is one of those few compounds your body doesn't produce and so it's important to find this 'good fat' from dietary sources. Fish is the most common source of Omega-3, but for those of you who don't like fish or are sworn vegetarians, then here are a few other options: chia seeds, soya bean, tofu, cauliflower and flax seeds. Omega-3 is as important for adults as it is for children. Here are a few ways in which it benefits kids: 1. Boosts a child's ability to read and also his memory. 2. It's essential for cognitive development of children. Children born to mothers who took Omega-3 supplements during pregnancy and breastfeeding, score higher on cognitive tests compared to others. 3. It's proven to benefit eye health, especially infant vision development, by helping the retinal function. 4. It's been found to be useful for children and teenagers suffering from asthma, attention-deficit disorder and depression. Why Omega-3 is good for adults: 1. Omega-3 is beneficial for the heart and can substantially reduce chances of stroke or heart failure. It also decreases the risk of arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeats), which can lead to sudden death. 2. It can lower the chances of developing certain types of cancer. 3. It's good for memory and benefits people suffering from depression or dementia. 4. Societies which eat a diet rich in Omega-3 have a much lower incidence of depression. 5. Omega-3 is effective in reducing cholesterol levels. It regulates the amount of bad fat (triglycerides) circulating in the blood, reducing the risk of heart disease. 6. It improves blood circulation and oxygen absorption. 7. It helps curb stiffness and joint pain in patients of rheumatoid arthritis. 8. It curbs nicotine cravings. 9. Reduces the risk of Type-2 diabetes.With inputs from PTI