FEBRUARY 21: ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS

29 Days to  a Healthier Heart

An Important Risk Factor
Excessive platelet aggregation (or platelet ‘stickiness’) is an important risk factor for heart disease and strokes. Once platelets aggregate, they release potent compounds which promote the formation of the atherosclerotic plaques. These atherosclerotic plaques can eventually block the coronary arteries to cause a heart attack or form a clot, which can lodge in the small arteries of the brain to cause a stroke.
The adhesiveness, or ‘stickiness’, of platelets is determined largely by the types of fats in the diet and the level of antioxidants in the blood. While saturated fats and cholesterol increase platelet aggregation, essential fatty acids (specifically, omega-3 fatty acids) have the opposite effect.

Good News
People who consume a diet rich in omega-3 oils from either fish or vegetable sources have a significantly reduced risk of developing heart disease. Omega-3 fatty acids have the following effects on the body:

• Lower LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
• Inhibit excessive platelet aggregation.
• Lower fibrinogen levels.
• Lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in individuals with high blood pressure.

Omega-3 fatty acids are found in freshwater fish oils, algae, mosses, ferns, linseed, rapeseed, flaxseed, hemp, canola oil, wheat, pumpkin, soy, and walnuts.

-Dr. Karen Hack, BHSc, ND