Omega-3s are known to offer health benefits, the most popular being improved cardiovascular and cognitive health. It's also known to help reduce inflammation. Since your body cannot produce omega-3s on its own, adding them to your diet or increasing intake with supplements is very common. I'm sure you know at least one person who takes fish oil to boost their omega-3s. Taking these factors into consideration, we set out to learn more about potential benefits, evaluate side effects and understand whether omega-3s are right for your body.
What are omega-3 fatty acids?
Omega-3 fatty acids, a type of polyunsaturated fat, are an essential part of the human diet. Unlike other fats that the body is capable of synthesizing (called non-essential fatty acids), omega-3s can't be made from scratch. They're vital for various bodily processes, such as making hormones for blood clotting, artery contraction and relaxation, and genetic functions. In other words, we need omega-3s, and we can only get them from food or supplements. There are three main types of omega-3 fatty acids:
Eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA
Docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA
Alpha-linolenic acid, or ALA
Adding omega-3s to your diet
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