Benefits of omega 3 to maintain lung health and prevent pneumonia

The benefits of omega 3 for maintaining heart and brain health are not in doubt. However, the healthy fatty acids found in oily fish like salmon are also beneficial for maintaining lung health. Here's a full explanation, as well as various other high-omega-3 food sources that you can include in your daily diet.

What are omega-3s?

Omega-3s are plural unsaturated fatty acids (polyunsaturated) which is needed by the body for cell formation and controlling inflammation. The benefits of omega 3 are further divided based on their respective types, including:

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) - its function is to produce eicosanoid chemical compounds in the body that play a role in maintaining immunity and controlling inflammation. EPA is also known to help relieve symptoms of depression.
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) - is one of the main components that make up 8% of the weight of the brain, so this type of fatty acid is indispensable for brain growth and development. DHA is not only needed by children during development, but also in the elderly to prevent brain damage such as dementia. DHA also plays a role in helping maintain retina health.
Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) - because it is the simplest form of the three omega-3 fatty acids, ALA can be reconstituted into DHA or EPA, but most of the ALA is used as an energy producer.

If your body is deficient in omega-3s, you will be more susceptible to inflammation, heart problems, and an increased risk of Alzheimer's. Pregnant women who do not meet their daily omega-3 needs are also at risk of causing the fetus to experience growth and development disorders.

Benefits of omega 3 to maintain lung health

In a relaxed state, healthy lungs can help you breathe up to 30 thousand times a day. However, a bad lifestyle, especially smoking, and various other conditions can cause lung disorders.

Diseases related to the lungs and respiration such as lung cancer, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema, to asthma can limit the lungs' ability to breathe air. As a result, the organs in the body may not get enough fresh oxygenated blood flow so they cannot function optimally.

Several chronic lung diseases are known to be triggered or caused by inflammation of certain tissues and parts of the lung. For example, a bacterial infection that causes pneumonia, which causes inflammation of the pleura, the membrane that lines the walls of the chest cavity that is the "home" of your lungs. Asthma can also occur due to inflammation of the bronchi, resulting in narrowing of the airway that triggers asthma symptoms.

This is where the benefits of omega 3 that you can get from a variety of healthy foods to help improve lung conditions. As explained above, omega 3 acts as an anti-inflammatory agent and helps boost the immune system, both in adults and children.

Various studies have reported that consumption of foods high in omega-3s can help reduce inflammation in the lungs thus speeding up the healing period of pneumonia. Based on research conducted by Mickleborough, et al. the benefits of omega 3 from food in people who have asthma can help reduce bronchial stiffness due to inflammation, especially after exercise and strenuous physical activity.

List of foods high in omega-3s that are good for lung health

Many world health organizations recommend a minimum daily intake of 250-500 mg of omega-3 for healthy adults. Remember that the body cannot produce omega-3s on its own, so you must get them from food.

Here's a list of foods high in omega-3s: