The right kind of fat can be good for you! Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish, avocados, walnuts, vegetable oil, eggs, and more, and can do lots of good for your body.
- Omega-3 fatty acids can help you lose weight and maintain weight loss! The fatty acids can help stabilize the mood swings that trigger diet-busting emotional eating.
- Got dry skin? Omega-3 fatty acids can help strengthen cell walls to keep your skin hydrated, soft, and supple.
- A recent study from the University of Pittsburgh found that omega-3 fatty acids help the body fight inflammation. If you have chronic neck, back, or other pain, try upping the amount of cold-water ocean fish (like salmon and herring) in your diet.
- DHA is a form of omega-3 fatty acid that works in the brain to help manage the flow of the feel-good chemical serotonin. A DHA supplement may ease symptoms of depression.
- Omega-3 fatty acids can help keep your brain healthy in other ways. About a quarter of the fat in your brain is made up of DHA.
- Pregnant? Omega-3 fatty acids can be good for mom AND her developing baby. Fish or fish oil supplements during pregnancy can help improve brain development and hand-eye coordination.
- Many baby formulas contain DHA and ARA (another fatty acid) supplements to help neurological development and visual development.
- Omega-3 fatty acids can help the body fight the effects of aging, like sudden heart attack and the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
And no, you don’t have to eat fish to get omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. There are plenty of high quality supplements out there that won’t leave you with fishy breath or a weird aftertaste. Look for the words “molecularly distilled” on the label — this means that a lot of the junk has been filtered out. A fishy taste is a sign of a poorly made product. If you’d rather just eat the fish, the experts suggest seafood no more than twice a week.