More Fat, Less Heart Attack

Eating foods that are rich in pure omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of heart attack, according to a new study in JAMA Internal Medicine. Each year approximately 735,000 Americans suffer from a heart attack according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The study was conducted by lead researcher Liana C. Del Gobbo, Ph.D., of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine in California, according to Medical News Today. She and her team discerned that participants with more omega-3 in their bloodstream were 10 percent less likely to have a fatal heart attack as opposed to those with less concentration.

Fatty acids, specifically omega-3, are required by our bodies for muscle activity, cell division and growth, according to Medical News Today. The only way our body receives omega-3 fatty acids is through the food that we eat. Some foods that are rich in omega-3 include many types of fish such as mackerel, herring, halibut, and others, according to WebMD.

Certain grains also have fatty acids such as flaxseed, bread, and some cereals. There are also plenty of supplements that have omega-3 in them such as vitamins and fish oil pills. Dairy items such as eggs and milk are also rich in these fatty acids. Although fat may not commonly be linked to lessening heart attacks, eating the right kind just may save some lives.

For more information on foods we should be eating more of, click here.