Want to know how omega 3 fatty acids help you to lose fat? Then find out here in this article.

If you knew of a study which showed that fish oil could not only caused mice to lose weight, but also prevent mice from gaining weight even though they were given free access to food, you would be interested in learning more?

There is a study which does exactly that. It was performed by researchers at Charles University, The Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic in Prague, and Pronova BioPharma of Norway. The study indicated that a 60% Omega-3 concentrate promoted weight loss in mice on a cellular level, by "switching on" genes that break down fat in the cells’ mitochondriae.

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Even more impressive, however, the Omega-3 concentrate reduced the mice’ total number of fat cells, with the greatest reduction coming in their abdominal areas. When the mice were put on a diet their calorie intake by 10%, the effects of the Omega-3 were even more dramatic!

But, you are probably asking, will Omega-3 help you lose weight? You’re not a mouse!

The good news is that the same omega-three concentrate was also given to a group of 20 women categorized as obese, with body mass indexes higher than 40. These women were already on very restricted calorie diets. Within three weeks group of women who are receiving the omega-three concentrate lost 20% more weight than the group who were not. They also reduced their body mass index is by, in some cases, as much as 15%.

The Pronova researchers believe that, in addition to overeating and lack of exercise, weight gain can be caused by the body’s sending messages to its genes, triggering them to start storing fat. As the body creates more fat cells, it also begins converting carbohydrates into fat. Pronova believes that the Omega-3 fatty acid, when combined with a sensible weight control plan, reprogram the genes to bring the carbohydrate instead of storing it. But there is even more.

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Clinical research done in Australia indicate that taking fish oil supplements rich in Omega-3 fatty acids will increase blood flow to the muscles during exercise, helping overweight people lose weight more rapidly. Even more significantly, the people involved in this trial did not change their diets in any way.

Four groups were involved in the study; one of them took a small amount of fish oil each day; another took a small amount of sunflower oil; and each group did a 45 minute walk or run three times each week. Two other groups were given either the fish oil or the sunflower oil, but did not exercise. The only one of the four groups to experience weight loss was the one which both took the fish oil and did the exercise.

While the reasons linking consumption of Omega-3 fatty acids to weight loss are not yet fully understood, the other health benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids have been known for while. Omega-3 fatty acids play a significant role in brain development, and can improve memory and learning skills. The Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois, has also done research showing that Omega-3 fatty acids reduce the risk of stroke in elderly people. A study in Thailand show that school children receiving Omega-3 recovered more quickly from common sicknesses.

Even if you are not convinced that Omega-3 can help you lose weight, you certainly have nothing to lose by adding it to your diet, and you have plenty of health benefits to gain. So why not start adding three servings of cold water fish to your diet each week, or take a minimum of 400 mg of Omega-3 as a supplement every day?

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By Kurt Ryan Published: 1/21/2009 THE STOP EAT DIET

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