Its hard to imagine that your doctor would ever advise you to start eating more fats.
Well, not just any type of fat.
Omega 3 fatty acids are very important for your over all health.
Your body cannot produce omega 3 on it's own like cholesterol the bad type of fat.
In order to get the essential fat of Omega 3, you need to incorporate more of salmon, tuna or halibut in your diet.
Some foods which are not as tasty such as algae and krill, plus some other plants are also a very good source of omega 3 fatty acids.
Omega 3 fatty acids are in the polyunsaturated family.
They are very vital for our over all development.
If you eat enough of it, it is thought to prevent many types of diseases and help us all live a better and a healthier life.
Don't confuse omega 3 with omega 6.
You do need to keep your diet balanced in both of these types.
Omega 3 fatty acids are helpful in reducing inflammation while omega 6 fatty acids tend to cause it.
Most Americans are eating way too much of the foods that contain Omega 6 and not enough of the foods containing Omega 3.
In fact most are eating 14 to 25 times more of the Omega 6 then Omega 3.
Due to this consumption pattern in our diet, most of the Americans suffer a lot from heart disease, cancer and arthritis.
They are also tired, moody, can be suffering from dry skin and poor memory.
Mediterranean on the other hand have a better balance of the Omega 3 and Omega 6 in their diet.
They also have less instances of heart disease.
If we follow their diet of less meat, (containing omega 6), and adding more fish, whole grains, fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and even a bit of wine daily, can be very beneficial.
There are two 3 types of Omega 3 fatty acids.
Eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid(DHA) are two types that can be found in cold water fish.
The third type, ALA, is found in flaxseeds, flaxseed oil, canola oil, soybeans, pumpkin seed oil, perilla seed oil, walnuts and walnut oil.
It is also present in krill and algae.
If for any reason, you cannot consume a diet rich in the Omega 3 fatty acids, you can rely on supplements.
You can find both EPA and DHA in fish oil capsules at your local retailer or health food store.
If you take supplements, be sure to take ones that are state they are free of the contaminants such as, mercury, lead, and cadmium.
It isn't recommended that an adult take more than 3 grams of omega 3 fatty acids in the in the form of capsules per day.
If you're doing so, do ensure to consult your doctor.
Too much omega 3 can increase your risk of bleeding and bruising.
If you have coronary heart disease, American Heart Association recommends you to take not more than 1 gram of EPA and DHA per day.
Allow 2 to 3 weeks to start seeing any results.
You can also get enough omega 3 in your diet naturally by eating fish at least 2 times a week.
If you have any health problems, you should always consult your doctor about the recommended dosage of omega 3 you should take.
If you are healthy and young, why not start taking preventative measures to stay that way?