Fishing for compliments

Many of us are concerned about dietary fat, worrying that it might make us fat. The truth is that a low fat diet won’t help you lose weight. In the right form it can be hugely beneficial. Consuming fatty acids such as omega 3, found in oily fish has an excellent effect on heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.

What else is essential about ‘essential oils’?

Omega 3 fatty acids have a positive effect on the symptoms of peri-menopause. The anti-inflammatory properties help keep your musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal and immune systems functioning optimally.

There is evidence to suggest that this dietary fat helps improve a variety of menopausal symptoms such as:

Joint pain

Depression

Osteoporosis

Hot flushes

Vaginal dryness

Your body cannot produce fatty acids by itself and needs to get them from your diet.

I took this picture of an excellent meal we had in a Finnish harbour cafe on a recent trip. It was locally sourced, wild and very very tasty. Other sources of omega 3 includes:

• Other oily fish such as tuna, herring, sardines and mackerel

• Flaxseed and canola oil

• Walnuts

• Chia seeds

• Soybeans

• Eggs

• Seaweed

Taking a good quality supplement is also an option when you can’t get enough through your diet alone.

Recent recommendations suggest that about 2% of your daily calories should be omega 3 fats which equates to about 2 grams a day on a diet of 2000 calories.

Omega 3 fatty acids are renowned for their health benefits but an additional perk is the effects they have on skin and hair. They may help to activate hair growth by nourishing hair follicles and can help to hydrate dry skin. What’s not to like?

Feel good both inside and out, make sure you make room on your plate for this essential dietary fat!