Claudann Jones Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Claudann Jones Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Omega-3s are a form of polyunsaturated fatty acid that can be found in salmon, tuna, flaxseeds, sardines, nuts and seeds. The FDA recommends that adults should have 8 ounces of fish per week and pregnant women to have 8 to 12 ounces per week. Omega-3s can also be found in supplement form as fish oil, cod liver oil and algae oil. Omega-3s can provide many functions and benefits to your body.

— Omega-3s may help lower risk of chronic disease, such as heart disease, and regulate blood pressure.

— Omega-3s play a role in nervous system development. It may help improve memory function and cognitive development by improving brain processes. Research has found that people who consume more omega-3s may have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and other cognitive impairments.

— Research indicates that omega-3s may improve bone strength by increasing how much calcium is in the bones, thus reducing osteoporosis risk. Patients have also reported reduced joint pain and improved grip strength.

— As seen consistently in many studies, omega-3s can help fight inflammation by reducing the production of inflammatory markers in your body thus reducing risk of chronic disease.

— According to a 2010 publication in the Proceeding of the Nutrition Society, omega-3s may be helpful as an adjunctive treatment to medical treatment for improving the symptoms of Rheumatoid arthritis.

As always, try your best to get your nutrients from food and speak to your physician before beginning any supplements.

For more information, contact Claudann Jones, Smith County Extension Agent for family and community health, at 903-590-2980 or email at cmjones@ag.tamu.edu. Like our Facebook page: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Smith County.