Omega 3 fats are sometimes referred to as good fats. This may seem contradictory because we have been brainwashed into thinking that all fat is bad.
The health impact of the type of fat eaten in our diets is well documented and one with which most of us are familiar with. For example, it is well known to most of us that we should eat less saturated fat because of its bad influence on the body, clogging up arteries and increasing the risk of Cancer and Coronary Heart Disease.
It is now widely accepted that by eating less of the bad fats and more of the good fats, there are benefits to be enjoyed by all of us.
The long and short of it:
There are two types of Omega 3 fats ; long chain and short chain. Long chain are found in oily fish and seafood and short chain are found in seeds, nuts and vegetables. The Long chain fats are more potent than the short chain fats as these need to be converted in the body and we are not very efficient at it.
The reason that the Omega 3 fats are special is because they can be converted by the body, into very useful substances. These are known to perform a number of vital regulatory functions in the body, including those involved in heart rate, blood pressure; the immune response; and in the breakdown of fats.
They are also an integral part of the structure of the body, most importantly, the brain. Here, they are highly concentrated and appear to be particularly important for cognitive and behavioural function as well as normal growth and development. Amazingly, Omega 3 fats comprise approximately eight percent of the average human brain