Where Should I Get My Omega 3s?
Clients at Next Level Fitness in Irvine, CA, often ask about the benefits of having a good balance of omega 3 to omega 6 fatty acids. While the ration should be approximately four omega 6 to one omega three, the average American diet is anywhere between ten omega 6 to one omega 3 all the way to 50 omega 6 to one omega 3. It’s pretty obvious that something needs to be done to get back in balance. That means eating less food with omega 6 and boosting the omega 3 foods.
Why is it important to have a good balance of fatty acids?
Inflammation flares when you have too much omega 6, so do foul, aggressive moods and aggression. Omega 3 promotes brain health, increases good cholesterol, reduces triglycerides, lowers blood pressure and is basically heart healthy. It helps reduce the symptoms of ADHD, lowers the risk of cancer and so much more. Omega 6 does provide energy for the body, but the truth is, we just eat too much of it. Omega 6 is found in corn and soybean oil, mayonnaise, walnuts, almonds, cashews and sunflower seeds. Since it’s high in foods fried in vegetable oils, eliminating fried food helps lower your intake.
How can you boost your omega 3 through diet?
Some of the same foods that are high in omega 6 are also high in omega 3. Walnuts and sunflower seeds for example are two of them. Walnuts have a ratio of four grams of omega 6 to one gram of omega 3, which is the perfect balance. However, peanuts are at the other end of the extreme, with a ratio of approximately 1700 to 1, so if you are hungry for nuts, go for walnuts or macadamia nuts, which are also good. The best sources of omega 3 come from the sea. Fatty fish, like salmon, mackerel, herring and sardines are extremely high in omega 3.
These veggies also provide omega 3.
Those little mini cabbages, Brussels sprouts, are excellent sources of omega 3. There’s approximately 12% of the daily recommended amount in just one cup. Toss a few in your salad raw or roast them and add. While you’re at it, grind some flaxseed and sprinkle on the salad and put in a few anchovies. Both will boost your omega 3 intake. Flaxseed oil can also be used as alternative to butter.
- Ghee, clarified butter, is high in omega 9, another fatty acid. It has no omega 6 or omega 3, so it won’t disrupt the balance and has a high smoke point. That makes it a good choice for frying and sauteing food.
- Even though flaxseed oil is a good alternative to other oils high in omega 6, it’s not useful for frying food. It has a very low smoke point, where the oil changes composition, losing health benefits in the process.
- Other vegetables, besides Brussels sprouts, that will increase the amount of omega 3 in your diet include kale, broccoli, cauliflower and spinach.
- Your overall mental health is dramatically affected by what you eat. For instance, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression are all positively affected by increasing omega 3 fatty acids.
For more information, contact us today at Next Level Fitness
Not everyone should go gluten free. However, if you have a gluten intolerance or celiac disease, gluten free foods can help you return to good health. Unfortunately, gluten is often hidden in products you might not suspect, like ketchup or soy. Gluten is a protein in grains like wheat. While the higher amount of protein makes it a good option for some, it’s not for those whose body struggles with gluten. The problems that occur can include diarrhea, exhaustion, skin conditions, anemia, auto-immune disorders, depression, headaches, stomach pain and more. Today, almost 80% of wheat is a variety that’s high in gluten.
While the best treatment for aching muscles is normally provided by a massage therapist, massage guns also can bring relief from sore muscles. These devices were first used by massage therapists to help increase circulation and bring aid for pain. They can provide deep relief at home that other types of vibrating machines and foam rollers can’t offer. It’s known as percussion therapy. Today, they’re found in many homes as a quick answer to painful muscles.
You have to have all four types of fitness training to become fit. They include balance, strength, endurance and flexibility. We provide all types of training at Next Level Fitness in Irvine, CA. Flexibility training is important to help prevent injury and can make moves you do daily easier on your body and more enjoyable. Increasing your flexibility takes more than just stretching occasionally. It takes constant effort and knowing the right way to increase flexibility.
Are you a chronic viewer of TikTok videos? If you are, you’re probably familiar with many of the different challenges. Some are really funny and a blast to try, while others can be quite dangerous. One of the more dangerous challenges is dry scooping. What is dry scooping? It’s taking a scoop of powdered pre-workout mix that is supposed to be added to water or other liquid and trying to swallow it. There are several reasons this seemingly benign activity can be dangerous.
Is fitness a priority in your life? It should be. It affects how you feel, your health, your energy level, your mood and even how you look. While it takes some time to carve out time to get fit, the longer you put forth the effort, the faster you’ll get other tasks accomplished, due to increased energy. It isn’t just about losing weight, because if you’re thin, yet sickly, you aren’t functioning your best either.
If you have chronic exhaustion and feel tired and weak all the time, always check with your health care professional first. If the doctor says it’s not due to illness, then it’s time to take action. We can help you at Next Level Fitness in Irvine, CA. Sometimes the problem can come from being inactive. Sitting too long can actually wear you out. Take frequent breaks if you’re sitting for long hours and get moving. Stretch, walk or even do mild calisthenics. It all helps to get your blood circulating and boost your energy level.
What’s the first thing you do when you’re feeling dragged out and ready to stop and drop? Some people grab a candy bar and others grab a cup of coffee. You can get energy without coffee or sugar and the energy lasts even longer. Unlike both, you won’t come crashing down, create a dependency or interrupt sleep later. Caffeine affects the neurotransmitters, blocking ones that make you feel drowsy and boosting those that make you feel alert. However, there are better ways to give your body a boost that are more long-lasting and can even help you get a good night’s rest.
One of the latest weight loss aids that are creating some interest are weight loss patches. Clients at Next Level Fitness in Irvine, CA have asked whether these work or are a waste of money. Exactly what are these patches? They work like nicotine patches or pain patches and deliver the ingredients trans-dermally, meaning via the skin, then go into the bloodstream.
Like other types of dairy, cheese provides vitamin A, calcium, healthy fat and protein. Also like other types of dairy products, it’s even better if the milk comes from cows that are grass-fed and organic. There’s a growing body of evidence that questions the benefits and whether cheese is bad for you that considers other factors, like the amount of cheese you eat. For instance, it’s high in fat, so overindulgence can pack on the pounds. Some types of cheese are also better for you than others are.