Omega-3 Fatty Acids Instead Of a Daily Aspirin – A Healthier Alternative

Are you one of the many people who take an aspirin a day? Many doctors recommend this regimen as it thins the blood and helps it flow more easily through your veins, transporting nutrients to your cells and brain. It also protects your arteries from forming plaque. Did you know that omega-3 fatty acids do the same thing without the side effects of aspirin?



Some people have conditions that may prevent them from taking aspirin, such as a bleeding or clotting disorder, asthma, or stomach ulcers. Others may choose not to take aspirin because of the side effects and complications that can come from taking it including hemorrhagic stroke.



While daily aspirin can help prevent a clot related stroke, it may increase your risk of a bleeding stroke (hemorrhagic stroke). Gastrointestinal bleeding is also a risk with daily aspirin use. If you already have a bleeding ulcer, taking aspirin will cause it to bleed more, perhaps even becoming life-threatening.



Omega-3 fatty acids lower triglycerides and make the blood cells less sticky. The heart requires EPA (the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil) to maintain proper circulation. These nutrients have also been found to prevent sudden death due to cardiac arrhythmia -the immediate potentially fatal stoppage of the normal heartbeat.



Our customary American diet has a tendency to be deficient in essential fatty acids, especially omega-3s. While fish is a valid source of protein and the omega-3 oils that protect the heart, there are some other health concerns to consider.



Doctors have advised women who are pregnant or could become pregnant, as well as young children to be extremely cautious about the fish they eat because of the dangers of possible high mercury content. It has been found that king mackerel, tilefish, shark and swordfish are so high in mercury that they should be avoided entirely, and that albacore tuna be limited to one 6-ounce serving per week. To find out more about possible contamination of fish in your local area you can visit the Environmental Protection Agency's Fish Advisories website.



It appears to be a wiser option to choose to get our much-needed omega-3 fish oil in the form of dietary supplements. They aren't found in a typical multiple/vitamin mineral because oils don't mix well with the dry powders that are compressed into pills therefore you need to look for a separate fish oil supplement.



You can be assured of an excellent product if the manufacturer reveals the type of fish used, and where it was harvested. Another essential factor to look for is if they use the process called molecular distillation. This is a method that separates and discards toxins from the fish oil, yielding a safe and pure product.



By using omega-3 fish oil supplements in our daily diet we can have the assurance of good heart health from the nutrients of omega-3 fatty acids without the added worry of the side effects of aspirin. Check with your doctor before making any changes, but at the same time add omega fish oil capsules to your daily supplement routine.



Elizabeth Ruby is passionate about good health and is a firm believer in taking quality nutritional supplements. She has extensively researched Omega 3 fatty acids for optimal health. Check out her web site at http://www.omega-3-health.com/ to find out how she keeps her mind and body young and active, functioning fully with the help of Omega 3 Fish Oil.