Adding omega-3 to your diet not only promotes heart health by lowering cholesterol levels and high blood pressure, it also provides many other helpful benefits. Omega-3 helps reduce blood clotting in the arteries, reduces inflammation and stiff joints in those with arthritis, improves symptoms of depression, improves blood sugar levels in those with diabetes, and reduces the risk of developing certain diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's.  

Omega-3 fatty acids include a-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). ALA is the parent compound to the omega-3 family, with EPA as the daughter compound and DHA as the granddaughter compound. While each member of this family plays an important role in health, EPA and DHA are far more essential.

Food Sources of Omega-3:   

• Flax Oil and Flax Seeds  
• Salba  
• Walnuts (raw and soaked)  
• Hemp Seeds  
• Cold Water, Fatty Fish (wild caught)  
• Grass-fed Beef and Pasture-Raised Meat  
• Pasture Eggs

Fish absorb significant amounts of mercury, PCBs, radioactive substances like strontium, and toxic metals such as cadmium, lead, chromium and arsenic. If you choose to incorporate fish into your diet, be a discerning cat. Make sure it is wild and from the most pristine sources. Also, 1-2 servings of fish, especially fatty fish, weekly is all that's necessary to derive adequate amounts of EPA and DHA.

Supplements for Omega-3:     

• DHA 
• Cod Liver Oil Capsules 
• Flax Oil  

Supplements for Balanced Ratio of Omega-3 and Omega-6:

• EFA Oil Blend Capsules 
• EFA Oil Blend Liquid - Delicious!!   

Unhealthy Food Sources of Omega-6:   

• Corn oil
• Sunflower oil
• Soybean oil
• Safflower oil
• Cottonseed oil  
• Grain-fed beef
• Most commercial meats from factory farms  

***Stay tuned for Part 2 where we discuss how to get the right amount of ALA, EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids.