by wanttomakeadifference

Created on: June 11, 2008   Last Updated: July 28, 2008

Of Fish, Flax, and No Caffeine-My New Found Healthy Lifestyle

Several weeks ago, I had a humbling experience when I went to the doctor. I learned that my blood pressure was on the high side. This came as a surprise because I have never had any problems concerning blood pressure. In fact, if anything my blood pressure was normally on the low side. My doctor asked me a variety of questions mainly focusing on my diet and level of stress. I answered the questions and followed the doctor's order on the things I needed to do.

As I drove home, somewhat concerned I thought in more detail about my diet and the level of stress I had endured in recent months. I could not reach a reasonable conclusion on why my blood pressure was out of whack and frankly why I had not felt particularly well in a few weeks. Granted I had been through some stresful situations in recent months but my life had calmed down quite a bit. Moving back to my hometown was the best decision I could have made. My diet was no better or worse than it had been in years.

As I thought about what changes I could make in my life, I thought about a variety of things. Perhaps I could cut down on eating red meat, exercise more, and pray more because my faith is important to me. I began researching other things I could do to improve my quality of life and I became interested about a couple of things.

One of the things I read about was on how to promote a healthy heart. Most of the stuff I already know but one thing that called my eye in more than one article was the benefits of Fish oil and flax seed oil.

I always knew fish was supposed to be good for you. I always have liked tuna, salmon, and mackrel, but with the exception of tuna, I have never eaten a lot of fish. As I read the research, I was amazed at how important fish oil was to maintaining a healthy life. According to research, fish contains Omega 3 fatty acids that are good for the heart. You can get these acids from eating fish, but there is a danger of mercury contamination and other toxins. Pregnant women are often discouraged from eating fish when carrying their baby and it is discouraged in small children. However, fish oil supplements are devoid of toxins and therefore a much better choice.

Among the benefits of fish oil are the lowering of bad cholesterol levels, stopping the buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries, and reducing inflmaation in the blood. In addition, fish oil has been used to treat eczema, IBD, and arthritis. Fish oil has also been

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