For a long time fats have been blamed for weight gain but now we are hearing that there is a difference between so-called "bad" fats and essential fatty acids. Can you gain weight using omega 3 fatty acids or do omega 3 fatty acids help you to lose weight?
Udo Erasmus, expert on oils in nutrition explains that since society was told to reduce it's intake of fats in order to reduce cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and obesity many times the exact opposite has occurred with this reduction - although the average intake of fats has decreased obesity has more than doubled, diabetes and cancer have increased and cardiovascular disease has not decreased as we were told. The explanation for this he says is that we have been taught wrong facts regarding fats.
Essential fatty acids such as omega 3 fatty acid it would seem cannot make you fat but can actually help in weight loss. Fats can help suppress the appetite and help stabilize insulin levels. Omega 3 fatty acids have the added advantage of actually contributing to weight loss more directly.
Omega 3 fatty acids assist in weight loss by improving the thyroid function and therefore the metabolic rate and energy levels. Omega 3 also reduces water retention, improves kidney functions, increases energy and alleviates depression.
Water retention is a major contributing problem to obesity in many people but by improving the functioning of the kidneys omega 3 fatty acids allows people suffering from water retention to lose weight as the kidneys become more effective at releasing this fluid.
A lack of energy and depression often cause people to sit back and not get enough physical activity to help burn calories and increase the metabolic rate. Omega 3 fatty acids have been found to improve serotonin levels that improve the mood and help to lift depression and with the added energy available from improved thyroid functioning you are more able to get enough exercise to help you lose weight.
By stabilizing the blood sugar levels omega 3 fatty acids also help to cut down on hunger pangs and food cravings which many slimmers struggle with. Low blood sugar results in physiological hunger pangs and food cravings that need to be satisfied by eating. These low blood sugar levels as well as low/high spikes in blood sugar levels often result from a diet too heavy in carbohydrates.
Omega 3 fatty acids have been found to be very beneficial in weight loss programs due to the fact that they suppress appetites, improve thyroid and kidney function, stabilize blood sugar levels and increase energy while alleviating depression. It also seems impossible to get too many essential omega 3 fatty acids and gain weight with them.
Glossary:
Essential fatty acids: Fatty acids vital for physical and mental wellbeing which cannot be produced by the body.
Omega 3 fatty acids: A group of fatty acids that are necessary for physical and mental wellbeing including the individual fatty acids - ALA, GLA and DHA