Happier Heart

Unsaturated fatty acids such as omega-3 have long been known to lower cholesterol levels. Recent research also shows that about 3 g of omega-3 a day can lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart attacks.

Better Brain

Research conducted at the University of California-Las Angeles found that omega-3 fatty acids improve learning and memory and help combat depression, mood disorders, schizophrenia and dementia. Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, a UCLA professor of neurosurgery and physiological, analyzed more than 160 studies of foods' affect on the brain. His findings, outlined in ScienceDaily, are published in the journal Nature Reviews Neuroscience.

Younger Cells

Omega-3s keep cells healthier by decelerating their aging time. Findings published in the Jan. 20, 2010, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association show that 600 patients with coronary disease given omega-3 fatty acids over a five-year-period had slowed cell aging.

Omega-3 Sources

Fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, herring, trout and mackerel are the best sources of omega-3. It's also found in walnuts, flax seed, hemp seed, soybeans and their oils. Oils and other supplements are beneficial, but the body best absorbs omega-3 from food.

Too Much is Too Much

Exceeding the recommended dose of 3 g of omega-3 can cause have serious side effects, including stroke.

Source:

Mayo Clinic: Podcast: Omega-3 fatty acids--Get the heart-health benefits

Journal of the American Medical Association

ScienceDaily: Scientists Learn How Food Affects The Brain: Omega 3 Especially Important