Keeping your heart healthy with omega-3s

Your heart works hard for you day in and day out—which is why keeping it in peak form should always be a top priority. Ensuring you’re getting enough omega-3s in your diet is a great place to start. These critical “good fats” play a crucial role in maintaining heart health.

Omega-3s are essential fatty acids, meaning we have to get them from our diet, as the body can’t produce them. Of the eleven different types of omega-3 fatty acids, the three most important ones are:

• ALA (alpha-linolenic acid),

• EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)

• DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)

ALA is found in higher quantities in green leafy vegetables, plant oils, including nuts and seeds such as walnuts and flaxseeds. Direct sources of the omega-3 EPA and DHA are marine oils, such as fish oils and algal oils. When it comes to cardiovascular health benefits, EPA and DHA are particularly important. They can help lower triglycerides levels (blood fats linked to heart disease).

Most fish contain some EPA and DHA—although certain types have higher amounts than others2. The following options are recommended by Health Canada due to their low mercury content:

• Anchovy

• Capelin

• Char

• Hake

• Herring

• Atlantic mackerel

• Mullet

• Pollock (Boston bluefish)

• Salmon

• Smelt

• Rainbow trout

• Lake whitefish

• Blue crab

• Shrimp

• Clam

• Mussel

• Oyster

If you don’t like fish, or just can’t seem to get enough in your diet, you can get omega-3 from supplements. When selecting a supplement, choosing a product that has been third-party tested is a great way to ensure the product is of high quality. With the PureCheck program, you can access independent test results

for potency, purity and oxidation. This means you can rest assured you’re getting a product that is potent, pure and tastes great.

NutraSea has a wide range of ultra-pure, great-tasting omega-3 products that are unsurpassed in quality and innovation. Available in liquid or liquid-gel formats, they’re an excellent option if you’re looking to boost your omega-3 intake.