If you’ve struggled with obesity, you might have thought a lot about diet and exercise, and you may even incorporate vitamin supplements. But have you considered including omega-3 for weight loss?
When you are significantly overweight, you may suffer from a host of health problems that threaten your well-being and keep you from being mobile. If you’ve tried every diet and extreme exercise regimes aren’t possible due to immobility, you may begin thinking about bariatric surgery.
No matter what type of surgical procedure you choose, you will still need to make smart dietary choices to ensure you receive the nutrition your body needs while you’re shedding pounds. Without the right kind of nutrients, it could lead to malnutrition and endanger your health.
As you consider all of the ways that you can meet your nutritional needs, don’t overlook the benefits of omega-3 fatty acid supplements.
Understanding Omega-3 Fatty Acids
What are Omega-3 Fatty Acids?
Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of fatty acid that is unsaturated. They are found in fish, seeds, and nuts. When you hear the word fatty, you may think you need to avoid anything that contains omega-3 fatty acids if you want to encourage weight loss, but this is a type of fat that your body needs in order to function at its best.
Why Take Omega-3 Supplements?
While you can get omega-3 fatty acids from the foods that you eat, it is highly recommended that you take supplements as well to give your nutrition a boost. This especially holds true if you are going to undergo bariatric surgery.
Before you sign up for your weight loss procedure, you can start stocking up the medicine cabinet to ensure that you reap the rewards of including omega-3 fatty acid supplements in your diet.
The Many Benefits of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplements
Include omega-3 fatty acid supplements in your diet on a regular basis and you can experience a host of benefits.
1. Lowers Triglycerides
Omega-3 fatty acids are shown to lower the presence of triglycerides in your blood. Lower triglycerides, also known as blood fat, means lowering your risk of heart disease.
2. Reduces inflammation
Omega-3 fatty acids are also helpful in reducing inflammation throughout your body.
If you have had sore joints and bones, taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements can help you to feel better. This will be helpful as you become more active after your bariatric surgery.
The positive effect of omega-3 fatty acid on inflammation may help you if you suffer from asthma, which is connected to inflammation of your airways.
3. Helps fight depression
According to this Harvard Health Blog, scientists found that nations that consume a lot of omega-3 fatty acids have lower rates of depression.
4. Increases your ability to concentrate
Those that take omega-3 fatty acid supplements report increased cognition and improved concentration and focus.
5. Reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease
It has been shown that certain areas of the brain have increased blood flow in patients taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements. This study shows that taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
Additional Sources of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
While taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements will ensure that you get an adequate intake of this essential addition to your diet, you can also find omega-3 fatty acids in many of the foods that you eat.
What foods are rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids?
Include foods that are rich in this fatty acid to increase your intake and add variety to your diet.
1. Fish
You can find omega-3 fatty acids in a variety of fish, including salmon, bluefish, herring, sardines, anchovies, lake trout, mackerel, and tuna.
2. Nuts
Find more omega-3 fatty acids in nuts, including walnuts.
3. Flaxseeds
4. Eggs
5. Dairy Products
Include these foods in your diet in addition to taking supplements. Not only will you give your body something that will enhance the way it functions, you’ll be eating foods that are good for you.
Other Healthy Weight Loss Tips
In addition to eating enough Omega-3 fatty acids and other healthy supplements, these tips can help you get on (and stay on) your weight loss track:
Have a Daily Food Log
Every time that you put something into your body, you should be thinking about what you are eating and its nutritional value. Consider if it is going to help you to reach your weight loss goals. Sit down with your dietitian to map out a daily eating plan that you can follow indefinitely. Track your progress by logging what you eat everyday.
Consider Bariatric Surgery
If you choose to opt for bariatric surgery, you need to remember that this is not like waving a magic wand. You need to be committed to the long haul ahead of you as you make positive changes in your lifestyle that will help you to lose the weight and keep it off.
When you have bariatric surgery, you are making a commitment to change your life. This is a prospect that is both thrilling and terrifying at the same time. Take away the fear by knowing exactly what you are doing to your body and what your body needs.
Becoming physically active, making healthy eating choices, and including omega-3 fatty acid supplements along with your bariatric vitamins will help you to have the best possible outcome on your journey to lose weight.
Learn More About Bariatric Surgery Today
It’s time to take action. You need to do more than think about bariatric surgery, dietary adjustments, exercise, and supplements, like omega-3, for weight loss. You need to learn how all of these things can work together to bring out the healthiest you!
When you’re ready to talk to someone about bariatric surgery, call our helpful staff at Olde Del Mar Surgical. From your first phone call until your consultation with one of our skilled surgeons on staff, you will be a top priority.
The team at Olde Del Mar Surgical is committed to helping you to make your weight loss dreams a reality.