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Can Omega-3 Fats Really Speed Up Recovery After A Heart Attack?
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Omega 3 fatty acids are widely considered one of the healthiest additions a person can make to their diet. But new research shows that it can be especially beneficial to people who are recovering from one of the most serious, and unfortunately, all too common health problems, a heart attack.
A number of people keep thinking that omega fats, since they’re called fats, are actually bad. This is completely wrong. For decades, people have been brainwashed into thinking that eating fat of any kind was terrible for our health and would cause our cholesterol levels to skyrocket, leading to heart disease.
While some types like trans fats are indeed very unhealthy, the truth is that naturally occurring fats are an essential part of the human diet for maintaining optimal health. (Psst — here’s a little secret: Fat doesn’t make you fat either, it’s sugar doing that to you. But that’s a different topic for a different day.)
One of the essential healthy fats is omega-3. It is a naturally occurring fat found in many different foods from both plant- and animal-based sources. Omega-3 fats found in plants are called alpha-linoleic acid (ALA). Omega 3s from animal sources are called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Both of them are classified as long chain polyunsaturated fats.
Of the two, DHA – or omega 3s sourced from animals – has shown greater potential for helping those who have suffered from heart attacks. DHA is found in various meats and seafood, but the best sources are fatty types of fish like tuna, salmon, anchovies and herrings, as well as krill.
ALA – or omega-3 fats found in plants – are the compounds in flaxseed oil, various nuts and seeds, and cruciferous (leafy green) vegetables.
Alternatively, omega-3 supplements such as a high quality fish oil or krill oil are also great choices.
The benefits of consuming the omega-3 fats are innumerate — lowering blood pressure, fighting inflammation, lowering cholesterol to prevent arterial clogging, and decreasing harmful triglyceride levels. It also helps improve brain function, and reduce the risk of neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.
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Besides all the above listed benefits, omega-3 fats help those recovering from heart attacks and the new evidence supports it. A study was led by Dr. Raymond Kwong at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. It lasted for six months and involved 360 participants who had recently suffered a heart attack and were in the process of recovery.
Participants were divided into two groups. One of which was given a placebo and served as the control group, while the other was given four grams of omega-3 supplements each day for the duration of the study.
Dr. Kwong, who serves as Director of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) at the hospital, performed MRI scans on the participants’ hearts to observe whether or not the omega-3 supplementation had any effect on the recovery process. By studying these scans, Dr. Kwong and his team of researchers discovered that the group taking omega 3 supplements experienced a six percent improvement in the functioning of the heart, as well as reduction in scar tissue versus the control group.
While six percent may not sound like a lot to a layman, in scientific terms this was actually quite significant. Previous studies using only one or two grams of omega-3 fats did not produce much improvement. But four grams produced a modest jump in cardiac recovery. What this suggests is that higher doses of omega-3 fats can improve recovery more than once thought. “Can we do better than produce six percent heart improvement and six percent less scarring?” asked Dr. Kwong in an interview after the study. This is certainly worthy of further study and holds great potential for accelerating the recovery of heart attack survivors.
Adding more omega-3 fats to your diet is a wise idea for anyone, especially since many modern diets, particularly those in the Western world, have far too much omega six fats, leading to a nutritional imbalance which has been linked to all manner of health problems, including the obesity epidemic.
READ ALSO: 33 Full Of Omega-3 Foods Infographic
While the goal should always be to eat a healthy diet by incorporating omega 3-rich foods, for many people a supplement might be the quickest way to improve their intake. Some nutritionists and doctors argue that krill oil is a superior source than fish oil because it is less prone to oxidation. Krill oil is usually more expensive, but both options will improve your intake omega-3s. Research the brand you are considering buying to make sure you are getting a quality product, as some cheaper, less reputable brands use filler oils that don’t have the health benefits.
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