Omega The Almighty

Can you reduce your blood pressure and your risk of heart attack simply by getting two teaspoon of vegetable oil and six to 10 walnuts halves into your diet daily? Yes, you can!

Findings of two recent international studies show that as long as the vegetable oils you use are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids-known to lower triglycerides, slow hardening of the arteries, reduce heart attacks, and more- your risk of having a heart attacks can be reduced by about 59%. The omega-6 fatty acids found in walnuts also help keep blood pressure low, and that decreases the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Next time you are looking to cook up something special, or just enjoy a salad, choose your oil from among those rich in Omega-3 and/or Omega-6. These includes soybean, canola, flaxseed, safflower, sunflower and corn oils. You can also get a solid servings of fatty acids by munching on a few walnuts as a snack, or enjoying a meal with tofu, tuna, salmon or sardines as a main course.

Go Fish

Omega-3 fats are good for your heart, but they can also be a boon, but they can also be a boon to your waistline. In a multicenter study involving 232 overweight volunteers on a reduced-calorie diet, researchers found that when the dieters ate a meal rich in fatty fish, they felt fuller longer than those who’d eaten leaner fish, such as cod. The reason? High levels of Omega-3s may prompt the body to produce more leptin-the harmone that signals fullness-which may lead you to eat less food throughout the day, scientists hypothesize.

People with heart diseases may want to take supplements to ensure they get the proper amount of the heart-healthy fatty acids. Some heart patients, including those with severe angina, seriously compromised heart functions, or potentially lethal ventricular rhythms should speak with their doctors before taking fish-oil supplements

Source: American Heart Associations, Department of Health and Human Services, Heathmonitor

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