Your Neighborhood Optometrist

Friday, April 17, 2009

Omega 3's, please


You get them through eating cold-water fish (salmon, trout, sardines, herring, etc) or taking fish oil supplements daily. Omega 3 fatty acids are often not consumed enough vs. the omega-6's that are readily available in the foods we regularly eat.

Omega 3's have natural anti-inflammatory properties, help to increase HDL (good cholesterol) levels and decrease LDL (bad cholesterol) levels, and protect against heart disease by removing existing plaque build up in arteries.

Specifically for eyes, diets rich in omega 3's may help eliminate the signs and symptoms of dry eyes which from recent research are in large part due to low grade chronic inflammation. It restores the tear gland's function as well as clears and evens the oils needed to keep our tears thick and long-lasting.

Fish oil is 100% natural. It helps not only to decrease inflammation but also enables the body to do its own repair work. This helps to prevent recurrence, not just the quick fix.

Who should take it and how much?

Everyone should take 1,000mg a day.
If you suffer from dry eyes, take 1,000mg, three times a day.
Women do tend to exhibit dry eyes nine times more than men. As we get older, our eyes get dryer, too.
Neutraceuticals (vs. pharmaceuticals) take longer to show results so stick to this regimen for up to three months before judging efficacy.

So many reasons to start taking in the Omega 3's. They may not taste the best, though, so take it with a meal :)


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