Eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids extends life expectancy, according to a recent Spanish study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids Benefits
The benefits of omega-3 fatty acids are well known. They have beneficial effects on cell membrane composition and on a number of biochemical processes in the body: blood pressure regulation, vascular elasticity, immune and inflammatory responses, and platelet aggregation.
According to a new study by the Medical Research Institute of the Hospital del Mar (Spain), omega-3 fatty acids can extend life expectancy by about five years.
Lower blood pressure and reduced morbidity
To carry out the study, researchers followed 2240 people over 65 for eleven years. The results leave little room for doubt: the volunteers with the highest levels of omega-3 in their blood lived on average 4.7 years longer than the other participants. “Regular smoking shortens life expectancy by about five years: these five years can be regained by consuming more omega-3 fatty acids daily,” the researchers commented in a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for our bodies. Adequate intake of omega-3 is therefore essential for people of childbearing age, pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and children”.
In the field of cardiovascular disease, scientific evidence also shows that the consumption of omega-3 fatty acids contributes to:
- Lowering blood pressure in people with high blood pressure
- Reducing the level of triglycerides in the blood, a type of lipid that, when consumed in excess, contributes to heart disease.
- Reducing morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease.
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