5 Benefits of Omega 3 for women
Omega 3 fatty acids are very well known for their health properties, especially for the eyes, heart and brain. However, we can’t produce them so we need to make sure that we are getting enough from our diet or from supplementing.
Whilst omega 3 is very well known for its plethora of benefits for anybody, there are even more benefits for women, as omega-3 can help to protect the body against certain conditions which are more prevalent in women. It can also help to alleviate the symptoms of these conditions.
Here are five benefits of omega 3 for women:
May help to alleviate menstrual pain: Living with menstrual cramps can make life very difficult. It may start out in your lower abdomen, and proceed to radiate out to your back, thighs, and through your pelvis, and the cramps themselves can seriously impact your quality of life. Studies have repeatedly shown that women who have a higher omega 3 intake have reduced levels of menstrual pain. In fact, there is evidence to suggest that omega 3 might be more effective than ibuprofen at reducing severe pain during menstruation (Zafari, Behmanesh and Agha Mohammadi, 2011)
May help to alleviate the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis: Women are nearly 3 times more likely to develop this particular type of arthritis than men. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition which causes the body to attack its own cells, causing inflammation, swelling and pain in our joints: typically our hands, feet and wrists. Studies have shown that diet can help with reducing the inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis, which in turn can help to reduce the stiffness and pain in the affected joints. The anti-inflammatory properties of omega 3 fatty acids have been shown to be particularly effective in reducing joint pain in people suffering with rheumatoid arthritis (Danao-Camara and Shintani, 1999).
May help to prevent osteoporosis: Osteoporosis is a condition which causes weakened bones, making them easy to break. Women are more likely to develop osteoporosis than men, and this likelihood increases after the menopause, when lower oestrogen levels can cause bone density loss to speed up. Several studies have suggested that supplementing with omega 3 fatty acids can have a positive impact on bone mineral density in women by boosting the amount of calcium in the bones themselves (Kruger and Horrobin, 1997).
May prevent complications in pregnancy: Omega 3 fatty acids are vital for the growth and development of children, even before they’re born. However, these benefits are not just limited to the baby. Increasing your intake of omega 3 during pregnancy can lower the rate of premature birth and preeclampsia, and those who supplement during pregnancy are less likely to suffer from postpartum depression (Salvig and Lamont, 2011).
May help to alleviate the symptoms of menopause: Hormonal changes during menopause can hugely affect our wellness and quality of life. Hot flashes, changes to our mood and our memory can all be affected by menopause, alongside thinning skin, joint pain and dry eyes. Studies have shown that omega 3 supplements can have a positive impact on several symptoms of menopause. Hot flashes, for example, are reduced in women who have higher levels of omega 3, possibly due to the way they help to regulate neurotransmitter function. Omega 3 has also been shown to alleviate symptoms of depression, improve our cognitive function and protect our eye health which, whilst beneficial for everyone, is especially useful to women going through menopause (Saldeen and Saldeen, 2004).
Vivo Life’s plant-based omega 3 supplement offers sustainable omega 3 fatty acids from algae, with a fresh lemon taste. It’s designed with all humans in mind, so it offers all the omega 3 you’ll need in a day in just 2ml of liquid. We chose a liquid to make it even easier to digest, and faster acting, as it doesn’t need to be digested before it can get to work!
Add to this that we third party all our ingredients for over 500 different contaminants, and you have a clean, potent source of omega 3 fatty acids which can keep your body’s levels of the vital nutrient at the right levels to increase your wellness overall!
Sources:
Zafari, M., Behmanesh, F. and Agha Mohammadi, A. (2011). Comparison of the effect of fish oil and ibuprofen on treatment of severe pain in primary dysmenorrhea. Caspian Journal of Internal Medicine, [online] 2(3), pp.279–282. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3770499/.
NHS (2019). Overview - Rheumatoid arthritis. [online] NHS. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/.
NHS (2019). Osteoporosis. [online] NHS. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/osteoporosis/.