Contents
1 Omega-3 for ischemia
Omega-3 fatty acids belong to the class of polyunsaturated fatty acids found in certain types of marine fish and plants. Among plant foods with a high concentration of omega-3, oils such as soybean and flaxseed can be distinguished.
Health Benefits of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids have anti-atherogenic and anti-thrombotic effects in blood vessels. In addition, they are able to maintain reflex vascular tone, normalize the functioning of the bronchi, maintain an adequate level of blood pressure, improve the functioning of the immune system, stop allergic reactions, and ensure the normal composition of the mucous membranes of the body. These acids play a key role in maintaining the persistence of inflammatory responses.
Omega-3 fatty acids form the outer shell of every cell in our body. The outer membrane, in addition to the protective function, is involved in the transmission of signaling processes between nerve cells, which increases mental abilities, stores information in memory and retrieves it as needed by the cells of the myocardium, retina and other organs. An equally important fact is the intake of olive and sunflower oils and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids into the body. It is known that omega-6 along with omega-3 have a positive effect on the processes of normal growth of children, improve skin condition and kidney function.
The most important positive property that the known omega-3s have is their anti-oncogenic effect, in particular against breast cancer, prostate cancer, which is realized due to antioxidant activity.
It has been established that the use of omega-3 with food leads to getting rid of eczema, reduces the allergic mood of the body, prevents the development of Alzheimer’s disease and depression, helps compensate for diabetes, improves the course of psoriasis, arthrosis, and osteoporosis.
All known unsaturated fatty acids are not synthesized independently in the body. Their absence in the diet is fraught with a malfunction in the normal functioning of the skin and its appendages, immune, vascular, and reproductive systems.
Foods rich in omega-3
For proper absorption of omega-3 fatty acids from food, it is important to maintain an adequate balance between omega-3 and omega-6. Normally, this ratio should be 1:1, the proportion is allowed – 1:2, less desirable – 1:3. In reality, this ratio looks like this: from 1:5 to 1:10. It is known that the use of fats in this scenario contributes to low absorption of omega-3.
For a person of average parameters, the daily intake of this acid was determined. So, for females, the norm is set at 1,6 grams per day, and for males – 2 grams per day. This amount of omega-3 unsaturated acids is sufficient for the normal functioning of the cells of the body.
The list of products containing the required amount of omega -3 is presented in the table:
product Name | Daily need |
rape oil | 1 tablespoon |
Nuts, not roasted | 7 -9 pieces |
Fresh salmon, not defrosted | 70 grams |
Flaxseeds | 1-1,5 teaspoons |
Canned sardines | 90 grams |
Tuna canned | 120 grams |
Rules for the correct use of omega-3
It has been established that vegetable unsaturated fatty acids are absorbed in the body more easily than animals. But it is necessary to eat both of them.
For proper absorption of omega-3s, it is important to adhere to the following rules:
Fill salads with sesame, nut or rapeseed oils, in extreme cases – olive. This is necessary to maintain a 1:1 balance between omega-3 and omega-6.
twice a week, eat fresh fish of semi-fat and fatty varieties, for example, herring, mackerel, salmon, tuna, trout, sardines and others. The volume of a serving of fish should be 100 – 150 grams. In addition to fish, nutritionists are allowed to eat fish caviar and seafood.
It should be noted that the content of omega-3 in fish is affected by the conditions of its habitat. For example, farm-raised fish contain negligible amounts of omega-3s because flour and other combined feeds were used to feed them, while wild-raised fish fed on plankton and marine plants.
Smoking and salting contribute to the decomposition of omega-3. When frozen for a year, about 50% of the fatty acid is lost. Preservation in olive oil preserves omega-3s completely, while harvesting fish in its own juice or in brine contains much less polyunsaturated fatty acids. One can of sardines canned in olive oil contains the average person’s three-day supply of these beneficial compounds.
Flax seed and flaxseed oil contain a significant amount of omega-3. A daily morning teaspoon of flaxseed oil or flaxseed will eliminate the lack of omega-3 and solve the problem of stool retention. In order to avoid clogging the spaces between the teeth, it is better to pre-grind flaxseed in a coffee grinder, and dissolve the powdered mass in warm water and drink it right away. Flaxseed can be added to salads to taste. It is important not to overdose or use the oil past its expiration date.
If the rhythm of life does not allow you to devote enough time to the nature of nutrition, you can try to use dietary supplements (BAA) that contain omega-3 in their composition. taking dietary supplements is an alternative to food. Its packaging indicates the daily intake, which avoids an overdose of the substance. But you still need to monitor the expiration date of dietary supplements.
Therapeutic properties of omega-3 fatty acids:
With heart problems: ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes, myocardial ischemia, atherosclerotic vascular lesions;
Neurological diseases: multiple sclerosis;
Metabolic diseases: type XNUMX diabetes mellitus and obesity preceding it;
Skin diseases of allergic origin – eczema, dermatitis;
Diseases of the veins of any localization: varicose veins, including those accompanied by thrombophlebitis and phlebothrombosis, caused by increased blood clotting;
Joint diseases of various origins: arthritis, rheumatic joint disease, lupus erythematosus, osteoarthritis;
Pain syndrome of completely different origin and localization: headaches, menstrual pain, joint pain and others;
Respiratory diseases of allergic origin: bronchial asthma;
In cosmetology and dermatology for diseases of the skin and its appendages, in particular nails, hair: hair loss, psoriasis, ichthyosis;
Diseases of the vocal cords: nodules, polyps, spastic voice disorders.
Known unsaturated fatty acids are able to penetrate from the mother through the placenta to the fetus, they are also present in breast milk. All this indicates the importance of acids for the pre- and postnatal development of the child.
2 Ginkgo biloba – a herbal preparation that saves the brain and heart
Medicinal properties
Ginkgo biloba has the ability to dilate blood vessels, improve their elastic properties, prevent thrombosis, and reduce blood pressure. A distinctive feature of the drug are its pronounced antioxidant properties. The drug is successfully used to prevent ischemic and hemorrhagic vascular accidents, in glaucoma and other eye diseases, to improve memory processes.
The herbal preparation has anti-inflammatory properties, enhances the performance of the immune system. When taken for one to two months, ginkgo biloba normalizes potency.
Areas of use
Clinical studies conducted at the turn of the seventies of the XX century in the West, demonstrated the positive effect of the herbal preparation in some vascular diseases that are prone to chronic course.
Further study of the medicinal properties of ginkgo biloba continued in Europe, America and Japan. In the States, the leaves of the plant, ground to a state of powder or gruel, are considered the best way to improve memory and increase concentration. Plant flavonoids, including quercetin, are considered the strongest antioxidants that can concentrate in the glands of the endocrine system, synaptic endings of nerve fibers for a long time.
Improvement of brain functions, in particular, mental activity, mood, speech, reduction of reaction time is explained by the ability of the drug to increase blood circulation in the vessels of the brain.
The herbal remedy inhibits the processes of reducing visual acuity of an age-related nature, thereby normalizing vision.
By improving blood circulation in the genitals, lower extremities and other areas where the sexual centers are located, ginkgo biloba normalizes potency.
The extract from the leaves of the herbal preparation activates the peripheral circulation. This effect is widely used in cosmetology to moisturize tissues.
The active components of the drug are the strongest antioxidants that neutralize the negative effects of free radicals on cells, preventing, among other things, the development of neoplasms.
Hair care products containing ginkgo biloba extract prevent hair loss on the head. The mechanism of the therapeutic action of such cosmetics is due to the ability of the drug to increase local blood circulation, which has a beneficial effect on the hair follicle, encouraging it to grow and strengthening the hair roots. Capillary blood flow improves the condition of the body as a whole.
3 Selenium is the main mineral for the core
It is known that selenium has protective properties and prevents the development of cardiovascular accidents. This association was first established in Germany and Finland, where selenium status is relatively low compared to other parts of Europe.
Over the past thirty years, the insufficient intake of the micronutrient in Finland has been compensated by adding it to the fertilizer used in the cultivation of animal feed.
Insufficient selenium content can act as an etiological factor in the development of a number of cardiovascular accidents. The trace element has antioxidant properties, affects the reactions of lipid peroxidation. Selenium ions form the active center of glutathione peroxidase enzyme groups that have protective properties against oxidative damage. This selenium-containing enzyme contributes to the destruction of reactive oxygen species, peroxides and a number of other compounds.
Selenium promotes the synthesis of its own lipid and protein antioxidants, affects the metabolic processes in mammals. Its deficiency contributes to the occurrence of degenerative processes in the heart muscle. By activating the enzyme glutathione peroxidase in experimental myocardial infarction, the microelement exhibits protective properties, limiting the damage zone, which is appropriately displayed on the ECG.
The increased formation of reactive oxygen species, on the contrary, contributes to a sharp development of ischemic changes in the myocardium and heart failure, which is expressed in a sixfold decrease in the cardiac index and registration of ischemia by ECG.
The use of selenium preparations in combination with vitamin E (tocopherol) in the pharmacotherapy of myocardial infarction had a positive effect on the morphological parameters of the heart muscle both in clinical experiments and in practice.
The phenomenon of endogenous regulation is a fundamental factor in maintaining the body’s selenium status both under environmental stress and under normal conditions. Studies have convincingly demonstrated that the formation of heart attacks, strokes, neoplasms is directly proportional to the low content of the microelement in the body.