Now is the time of the year where many new year's resolutions get left behind as a consequence of our fast-paced lives. So if you were thinking it was a good time to give up doing all of the difficult things it takes to be healthy, you should definitely reconsider! Now is the best time to focus on living longer, but more importantly, living longer and healthier. After all, if you are going to live longer, you want to spend your days living life the way you want, rather than in a nursing home or hospital. Focusing on health should dramatically improve your quality of life in the golden years. For instance, in a 15-year study published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Omega-3 fatty acids were found to decrease the risk of death caused from inflammatory diseases. Inflammatory diseases include heart disease, cancer, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and a host of other illnesses. Omega-3 fatty acids are the fats that are contained in fish oil and krill oil. Omega-3 fatty acids release a substance called resolvins that control inflammation in the body. According to Dr. Joe Mercola, of the famed Mercola Wellness Center in Chicago, "When your body's inflammatory process works correctly, it prompts your body's white blood cells to protect you from foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses through a type of inflammation. This type of acute inflammation will help heal your body of injuries and infections, and is responsible for the redness, pain and swelling that often accompanies such conditions during recovery. There are times, however, when your immune system may mistakenly trigger an inflammatory response when no threat is present, leading to excessive inflammation in your body that can fester silently for years until disease develops". When we eat a diet high in Omega-6 fatty acids (saturated animal fats) or we eat fats that are oxidized (fats from processed foods, such as hydrogenated oils) we increase inflammation in the body. A dietstyle high in sugar will contribute to inflammation as well. But, on the opposite end of the spectrum, when we eat healthy fats like fish oil and krill oil we can reduce inflammation in the body, preventing disease and promoting good health. A good rule of thumb for individuals is to supplement the diet with one teaspoon of liquid fish or krill oil per fifty pounds of body weight. If you don't mind the taste, you can power it down by the spoonful. If the "fishiness" gets you, you can mix your Omega-3 fatty acids in orange juice or blend in a nutritious smoothie. Our daughter has been getting a teaspoon of fish oil (and later whole food based multivitamins) since she was a day old. Whether you've been supplementing successfully since birth or are unfamiliar with the topic, it's never too late to start good nutrition for the betterment of your health!
