Omega 3 Fatty Acids and Their Potential Impact on Athletes essays

Omega 3 Fatty Acids and Their Potential Impact on Athletes essays When one wants to know whether the world is becoming more health conscious, one only has to look at the number of health food stores cropping up nationwide. It seems that everywhere one looks, health and fitness are the recurring themes of business. Restaurants have produced healthy choice menus, fast food establishments are promoting various salads and school menus have come under scrutiny. The trend has not overlooked the most health conscious industry in the nation either. Athletes undergo vigorous training that places great demands on them physically and psychologically. It is important that they maintain the most optimum health possible so that they can excel at their chosen sport. The recent interest in the benefits of omega 3 fatty acids has reached the field of sports and athletes are turning to these elements to try and boost their physical strength and abilities by boosting their overall health profiles. While there have not been many studies conducted yet on the benefits o f omega 3 fatty acids on athletes, the studies that have been done prove promising. Before one can begin to understand the benefits of omega 3 fatty acids on the life of athletes one needs to have an understanding on what they are and how they work as a supplement to the body. One food trend that gained significant momentum during 2005 was the increased prevalence of heart healthy omega 3 fatty acids. Found naturally in cold water fish, algae, other marine sources and in flax seeds, omega 3's have begun to penetrate a variety of product categories, including milk, yogurt, bread, pasta and eggs. According to Datamonitor's Productscan Online database of new products, worldwide launches of new foods and beverages containing omega 3's have more than doubled since 2002(Seaton, 2006). The significant increase in interest toward omega 3 fatty acids is due to the increased understanding of their benefits. Omega 3 fatty acids have ...