HOW FATTY ACIDS HELP YOUR HEART

Fatty acids are essential food nutrients. They are mainly produced when fats and oils are broken down in the body. Three main types of fatty acids are;

• Omega-3 fatty acids
• Omega-6 fatty acids and
• Omega-9 fatty acids

Each of these types of fatty acids provides the human body with vital nutritional elements, which help the body in a number of ways, in particular these are beneficial for maintaining a healthy heart. Omega-9 fatty acid is the only fatty acid that can be produced by the human body whilst Omega-3 fatty acids and Omega-6 fatty acids can only be obtained through the consumption of certain types of food.

The human heart is the power station for the entire human system, so the moment something goes wrong with it, the entire body will feel the effect. This means that it is vital that our hearts are kept in the best shape and form possible, by leading a healthy lifestyle and adequate consumption of foods that are rich in fatty acids.

Consuming foods like fish that are very rich in fatty acids, greatly improves the health condition and performance of the human heart. This is due to the following reasons;

• First and foremost, fatty acids are one of the food nutrients which help with the carrying of oxygen from the heart to all other parts of the body. This means that when there is a shortage of fatty acids in the human system, there is the possibility that blood will not be transferred to all parts in the proper way, which will lead to the heart having to use extra energy if it wants all parts of the body to be well circulated. This in turn makes the heart grow weaker with the passage of time, which makes it vulnerable to a number of heart diseases.
• Secondly, fatty acids are also known to perform various artery-cleaning activities which help the body to get rid of all cholesterol that might have been building up in the arteries. Clearer arteries make it easier for blood and oxygen to be pumped to all parts of the body by the heart, regulating blood pressure and supporting good heart health. Blocked arteries can lead to high blood pressure, heart attacks and stroke.

The need to consume enough fatty acids is very clear, they are essential to maintain effective and efficient heart function.