Many of us have already heard about natural health supplements like Omega-3, and today it is breaking ground with its natural ability to help in healing. How? In recent studies, Omega-3 fish oil was tested and has shown to act as a natural preventative and aid for a number of mental health problems.

First, a little background on omega-3 fatty acids: Found in fish oil and other food sources, these acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids that are nutritionally essential. This natural health supplement includes a-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Some of the many natural health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids include reduced risk of coronary heart disease, improved blood circulation, blood pressure reduction, and help in relieving depression and anxiety, among other health conditions.

The good news is that we can obtain natural health macronutrients like omega-3 through common food sources. Seafood - including clams, mussels, anchovies, herring, mackerel, salmon, and sardines are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. Flaxseed oil also contains omega-3 acids; as do kiwifruit, black raspberry, walnuts, pecans, hazel nuts, and eggs.

Because natural health supplements like omega-3 fatty acids are known to enhance membranes in brain cells, its no wonder researchers have taken an in-depth look into its effectiveness at helping individuals who suffer from a number of mental health disorders. For example, a preliminary double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids on bipolar disorder found that patients who not only tolerated the fatty acids well, but demonstrated improvement in the mental health condition of the patient.

Omega-3, one of the natural health nutrients of the new millennium has now been shown to have benefits in the prevention of schizophrenia. After a study (Schizophrenia Daily News Blog) conducted in Australia, participants who had displayed early signs of the disease were given fish oil for three months. Findings demonstrated that natural health treatments like omega-3 fish oil could be beneficial in preventing schizophrenia on patients who are at risk for developing the mental health condition.

In general, omega-3 fatty acids are truly a natural health benefit to any one wanting to maintain a healthy and well-balanced life. For those of us who may be at risk or are suffering from common health issues, it is proving to be a vital dose of daily nutrition.

Interested in learning more about these or other natural health supplements? Let professional training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, holistic health, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore natural health courses near you.

Note: This article is designed for education purposes only and is not intended to serve as medical advice.

*Other Sources: Archives of General Psychiatry

Natural Health: Improving Mental Wellness with Omega-3 © Copyright 2008

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Resource Box: CarolAnn Bailey-Lloyd - Freelance Writer and Web Consultant for HolisticJunction.com, in association with CollegeSurfing.com - Educational Resources for Natural Healing, Natural Health, and other healing arts programs.