I don't mean to start off all doom and gloom. But in the Greek alphabet, omega is the last letter; it signifies the end; the grand closure.
And because I've been thinking about both my heart and brain health lately, I couldn't help but wonder: what is the one thing that you are crossing-your-fingers and hoping you don't "end up with?"
Is it heart disease? Osteoporosis? Dementia? Urinary incontinence?
Of course, I know the answer. It's all of the above.
Ok. Next question. What are you doing about it? (besides crossing-your-fingers and hoping for the best...)
If you said "taking Omega 3s," you are on a good path.
Menopause Chicks was born out of my own frustration while trying to find quality women’s health information online, in the media, and even from the medical community.
As my journey progressed, I inevitably found myself in the vitamin aisle—staring down a sea of supplement bottles—without any education or understanding of what my body needed, what ingredients or brands to trust, how much to take or when.
Fast-forward nine years, I now have the privilege to work with some incredibly smart and talented health professionals who help shape my own health--and the content for Menopause Chicks.
One of the most popular concerns for women in midlife is their brain health.
As we navigate these years, it can be challenging to pinpoint whether difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, and “brain fog” are rooted in hormone fluctuations, hormone imbalance, stress, sleep deprivation, a nutritional deficiency, or cognitive decline.
I once joked I might be showing signs of dementia.
Except, I wasn’t really joking. I was scared.
I would forget that I let the dog out.
I was forgetting the names of colleagues mid-sentence.
And one time, I got off a plane and drove straight home forgetting I had a suitcase to claim on the arrivals carousel.
I was in perimenopause, my stress was high and my aging mother was also showing signs of forgetfulness and confusion. After all that, it’s not surprising that I continue to be concerned for how I can invest in my own brain health. I know now, that it affects my heart health too.
Omega-3 fish oil
Recently I sat down with Bruce and Petra from Pure Integrative Pharmacy, West Vancouver, and this is what I learned about the health benefits of Omega-3s (fish oil):
HEART HEALTH
EPA in Omega-3s helps to reduce inflammation in our bodies—it’s good for our joints and our arteries!
In fact, fish oil helps to take the inflammation out of our arteries, which can drop our chance for heart attack and stroke by as much as 47%!
In the absence of inflammation, the heart doesn’t have to work as hard. This is huge for women’s health, as the leading cause of premature death in women is heart disease.
BRAIN FUNCTION
DHA in Omega-3s assists with cognitive function and to protect the brain. So woman can put their heart health and their brain first with Omega-3.
While fish oil can help lower high blood pressure and help improve all around circulation, it also feeds the brain. Omega-3 to enhance cognitive function should be part of a protocol to prevent Alzheimer’s disease, because 70% of Alzheimer’s patients are women.
OTHER BENEFITS
As we age, inflammation can become a bigger factor in our ongoing well-being.
But benefits from fish oil are also seen for the joints, the digestive tract, and the body. Anywhere you’re inflamed, Omega-3 can help.
It’s likely not possible to get adequate Omega-3s from our diet. Shop for a high-quality fish oil that has been cleansed really well. Fish oils can sometimes contain heavy metals and cleansing can be essential to the purity of the supplement.
Omega-3 supplements have improved over the years and there are many great options that do not leave a fishy taste. Vegan options exist too, ask a natural health advisor.
Fish oils can take 6 to 12 weeks of consistent intake to make a difference to the person consuming them.
Quality Omega-3s offer a myriad of benefits for the body. Will you be taking advantage?
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