Omega -3 Fats cut your chance of death (or hospitalisation)

Omega-3 fatty-acid supplementation improved life expectancy and decreased incidence of death in symptomatic heart-failure patients according to a study released on medscape. Now what was interesting to note statins (a commonly prescribed drug) failed to have any beneficial effect in the same group of patients. Check out the report here

So if you didn't know already fat is good for you. The right type of fat that is. Saturated fats and monounsaturated fats are not nutrients, you do not need them (although you can use them to make energy), but polyunsaturated fats or oils are essential. Essential fats not only reduce risk of death and readmission to hospital from heart disease, but they can reduce the risk of cancer, allergies, eczema, depression, fatigue and even PMS. The two essential fats being omega 6 and omega 3.

The key is to get them in balance. Most diets however will be deficient in Omega 3 as it is properties are more prone to damage in cooking and food processing. Probably the best natural sources of Omega 3 include Hemp seed oil and Flax seed oil (cold pressed), flax seeds and pumpkin seeds. The right amount of omega 3 varies depending on which source you read (and your body requirements!). The optimum nutrition site has some sound nutritional advice.

Optimum Nutrition for Life: When Hungry Eat Your Rice...

'When hungry eat your rice, when tired sleep. Fools may laugh at me, but wise men will know what I mean'.

- Lao Tzu

If a fitness fanatic or a pregnant mother came to me, and I gave them both a programme I had designed for a combat athlete, (who's programme was exactly identical to the ultra marathon runner I had been training) you'd probably wonder where exactly had I received my qualifications, and if my mental faculties were in tact. However, this blanket approach is often adopted when it comes to nutrition. A 'one size fits all' model is spread throughout various magazines and institutions, without taking into account the uniqueness of you.

What I'm talking about here, is not simply eating to function (just to get buy), but nutrition that will have you at peak performance, and maintain optimal health (not merely just an absence of disease).

Liberty Gray over at the IKFF, has written a thought provoking piece on what she calls, 'Synergistic Nutrition'. If optimizing your current eating habits is the missing link in your current lifestyle this article is well worth a look.