New study on Omega 3 levels vs. heart disease risk
/A new study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition looked at the relationship between levels of Omega 3 and risk of cardiovascular disease (heart disease).
In the study, the scientists measured Coronary artery calcification (CAC) score of the patients. CAC is known to be the "gold standard" when assessing cardiovascular disease risk.
They looked at the relationship between Omega 3 levels and the CAC score.
What they found was (unsurprisingly) that low levels of Omega 3 were linked to high CAC score (high risk of cardiovascular disease).
Remember that Omega 3 is one of the most powerful "anti-inflammatory" compounds in your body, and that cardiovascular disease is primarily an "inflammatory" disease", so it makes sense that low levels of Omega 3 results in higher risk.
What can cause low levels of Omega 3?
- Not enough consumption of Omega 3
- Too much consumption of Omega 6
- Too many foods that trigger inflammation
- Too many lifestyle factors which trigger inflammation
Sources of Omega 3: fatty fish, free-range organic eggs, and supplements.
(I recently wrote an article on why Vegans should supplement with Omega 3)
Sources of Omega 6 (to avoid): primarily foods fried in vegetable oils (canola, sunflower, corn, etc).
Foods that trigger inflammation (to avoid): vegetable oils, sugar, preservatives, alcohol, grains (for some people).
Lifestyle factors that trigger inflammation: not enough sleep, stress, not enough movement.
