Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs)
EFAs are available in the on-line shop from EAS:
EFAs may lower blood pressure
We should all know by now that foods which contain omega-3 fatty acids may help reduce your risk for heart disease but a new study published in the online journal, Hypertension, has found that they can also help lower your blood pressure, even if you don’t suffer from high blood pressure (Ueshima et al.(2007) Food Omega-3 Fatty Acid Intake of Individuals (total, linoleic acid, long-chain) and Their Blood Pressure INTERMAP study. Hypertension 2007: DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.107.090720).
This international undertaking studied 5,000 adults aged between 40 and 59 living in China, Japan, Britain and the US and looked at a range of lifestyle factors, particularly the influence of diet on blood pressure. Results showed, after adjusting for variables such as age, gender, weight, salt intake and exercise (all of which are known to have an effect on blood pressure), that those subjects whose diets were rich in omega-3 fatty acids had, on average, slightly lower blood pressure than those who ate less omega-3 fats.
Although the amount of blood pressure reduction is small, it is still significant as reducing blood pressure by just a few millimetres can have a significant impact on health risks. To make the most of a healthy diet which is rich in omega-3 fats, anyone wishing to benefit their blood pressure should also try to eat less salt, maintain a healthy weight, avoid heavy drinking and eat more fruit, veg & whole grains.
The diets richest in omega-3 fatty acids were associated with a decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure of greater than 1mmHg and it is known, from previous studies, that a decrease of just 2mmHg is enough to reduce a population’s average death rate from stroke by an estimated 6%, and from coronary heart disease by 4%.
You can boost your intake of omega-3 fatty acids by eating more nuts such as walnuts, seeds such as flax seed, and vegetable oil such as canola and soy bean oil, as well as increasing your intake of unsalted, cooked fish such as trout, mackerel, herring and sardines.
Omega-3 fatty acid protects heart and prevents heart attacks
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has long been promoting the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids as they may help you maintain a regular heartbeat, reduce triglyceride levels and prevent blood clots from forming in your coronary arteries.
Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) is one of the main omega-3 fatty acids and new research suggests that it may protect the heart and help to prevent heart attacks (Yokoyama et al. (2007) Effects of Eicosapentaenoic Acid on Major Coronary Events in Hypercholesterolaemic Patients: a randomized open-label, blinded endpoint analysis. The Lancet; 369:1090-1098.).
More than 18,000 subjects who were taking statins to treat high cholesterol took part in the study and the results were extremely encouraging. The researchers found that 1,800mg/day EPA supplementation reduced the subject's risk of having a heart attack by almost 20%. Additionally, the subjects taking the EPA supplement had 24% fewer angina attacks and 19% fewer non-fatal coronary events than the control group who were just taking their statins.
EFAs are available in the on-line shop from EAS: