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By Heide Kennedy, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Intern

Omega-3’s…We hear a lot about them, but what are they exactly? Also, since they’re so often talked about, what are they good for? These were my questions exactly. Turns out, there is a reason for all the hype about Omega-3s since they provide us with many significant health benefits and many of us don’t get enough of them in our diets.

According to Registered dietician Jessica Ball, Omega-3s are one of two kinds of polyunsaturated fat, they are found mainly in fish and fish oils. Including more Omega-3 in your diet is being shown to have numerous health benefits. These benefits include:

• Promotes heart health
• Reduces inflammation
• Improves cognitive health
• Promotes eye health
• Improves mental health

Ball also states that the recommended daily allowance for Omega-3s is 1.6 grams for men, 1.1 grams for women, and 1.4 grams for pregnant women. So, how can we get more Omega-3 in our diets? There are supplementation options, such as fish oil capsules or krill oil capsules, but there are also foods that we can incorporate into our diets that are rich in Omega-3. Some of these foods include:

• Flaxseed oil
• Chia seeds
• Walnuts
• Canola oil
• Salmon
• Herring
• Soybean oil
• Sardines
• Mackerel
• Edamame

Now you know a little bit more about what Omega-3’s are, what kind of health benefits they provide, and also what foods are rich in them. I know that I am definitely going to incorporate more Omega-3’s into my diet!

For more health related articles, check out the Fill Your Plate blog!