The Benefits Of Omega 3 In Treating Inflammatory Diseases

Different foods can trigger different responses in our bodies, one of which is inflammation!

A certain degree of inflammation in the body is completely normal and healthy but once you reach your body's tipping point, problems can start occurring.

Most commonly, when we experience too much inflammation from foods or external factors, diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and asthma can start to flare and cause us grief.

Plus, leaving these conditions untreated can create a snowball effect on our health.

Luckily, most of these conditions can be treated by restoring balance to our body through one simple thing, food!

So how can we reduce this inflammation?
Current research suggests that regularly consuming foods high in omega 3 fatty acids may decrease inflammation in the body. An example of some omega 3 rich foods include salmon, tuna, flaxseeds, walnuts, and our favourite, hemp! 

How much omega 3 do we need to reduce inflammation?
Our typical Western diet doesn’t make decreasing inflammation easy as we tend to favour more processed foods which cause inflammation rather than reduce it.

One of the best things we can do to reduce inflammation in our bodies is to consume whole foods such as those mentioned above which contain high amounts of omega 3.

Current omega 3 recommendations range from 100mg – 4g per day. One tablespoon of Mt. Elephant Hemp Seed Oil provides 3.2g of omega 3. 

Unfortunately, the dose of omega 3 required to prevent or to treat different inflammatory conditions is still not clear. This is partly because different inflammatory conditions have different ‘dose responses. 

It’s important to point out as well that the evidence to support the anti-inflammatory effects of omega 3 is largely from marine-sourced omega 3s (EPA, DHA). While plant-sourced omega 3s (ALA) can be converted in our bodies to EPA and DHA, the conversion rate is low. 

For this reason, it is recommended that anyone sourcing their omega 3 from plant-based foods eat a higher proportion! 

For now, consuming omega 3 in the form of hemp (seeds, oil, or flour) can be a great opportunity to increase your omega 3 intake, potentially reduce inflammation in the body and achieve better health and wellbeing! 

This blog has been written by Dietitian, Alice Bleathman from Gut Started.