The A-to-Z of omega-3. Why this fatty acid is a must for good health.

摘要

Here's a shocker for everyone who believes fat is evil: Some fats aren't only good? they're essential. In fact, those known as omega-3 fatty acids interact with nearly every part of your body's function to prevent cardiovascular disease, improve your memory, aid fetal development during pregnancy, protect against Parkinson's disease, prevent respiratory diseases like asthma, and reduce the risk for Alzheimer's disease and dementia. As if that weren't enough, omega-3s are particularly important for people with diabetes. "[They improve] whatever insulin the person has or gets," says Artemis P. Simopoulos, MD, founder and president of the Center for Genetics, Nutrition and Health, a nonprofit educational organization in Washington, D.C., and author of The Omega Diet. "The omega-3s cut down on the inflammation, which both [people with type 1 and type 2] have."