Podcast Episode 140: Cardiovascular Health & Omega-3s – Clearing Up Controversies

Eating fatty fish or taking Omega-3 supplements could reduce cardiovascular disease for many patients, especially those who are at higher risk.”

Omega-3s, Cardiovascular Health & The Obesity Paradox

“There have been controversies about omega 3s in the last decade or so where many of the more recent studies have not demonstrated the same benefits as the studies done 30 years ago – but there have been some very recent studies that have been very impressive regarding omega-3s.” — Dr. Carl Lavie

Tune in to this episode to hear an in-depth discussion about:

• Why are there seemingly mixed “reviews” on Omega-3s and CVD?
• What does the research really show about the impact of Omega-3s on cardiovascular health?
• How much Omega-3s do you need? From food? From supplements?
• Which fish sources are higher in Omega-3s?
• Is eating seafood twice a week enough?
• Can you meet your Omega-3 requirements through plant-based food sources and supplements?
• How to make sense of EPA & DHA on supplement labels
• If you are at higher risk for CVD do you need more Omega-3s than people who aren’t?
• Should you get your Omega-3 levels checked?
• How important is exercise compared to diet when it comes to cardiovascular health? Is one more important than the other?

For the majority of people, fitness is actually more important than fatness when it comes to cardiovascular health.”

What is the Obesity Paradox?

Dr. Carl Lavie explains:

“We know that obesity worsens all the cardiovascular risk factors, which leads to an increase in cardiovascular diseases. However, once patients have these cardiovascular diseases the people who are overweight or obese actually have a better prognosis than do the thin patients with the same diseases.”

Dr. Carl Lavie, JR., M.D, FACC, FACP, FCCP

Dr. Lavie is a board-certified cardiologist with expertise in Preventive Cardiology, especially physical activity, aerobic and muscular fitness, cardiac rehabilitation, obesity, psychological risk factors, Omega-3s and fish oil. He is Professor of Medicine and Medical Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation and Prevention, and Director of the Exercise Laboratories at the John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute, Ochsner Clinical School-The University of Queensland School of Medicine in New Orleans. Dr. Lavie attended medical school at LSUMC in New Orleans, and did his Internal Medicine training at Ochsner and cardiology at the Mayo Clinic. He has authored over 1000 medical publications and 2 cardiology textbooks, and serves on 40 editorial boards, including the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and the American Journal of Cardiology, and is Associate Editor and Cardiovascular Section Editor of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.  He is also Editor-in Chief of Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases and is the author of the book The Obesity Paradox.

It’s really important for people who are not getting formal exercise to limit sitting and other sedentary behavior because the combination of the two is really detrimental.”

Resources:

Some links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Ochsner Health: Twitter | Facebook | Linkedin | Instagram

Always Omega-3s: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube

Dr. Lavie’s book: The Obesity Paradox: When Thinner Means Sicker and Heavier Means Healthier

Marine Omega-3 Supplementation and Cardiovascular Disease: An Updated Meta-Analysis of 13 Randomized Controlled Trials – Journal of the American Heart Association

Sea Change for Marine Omega-3s: Randomized Trials Show Fish Oil Reduces Cardiovascular Events – Mayo Clinic Proceedings

Omega-3s are inexpensive, non-toxic and combine well with other therapies we use in preventive cardiology.”

Related Episodes:

Are You Getting Enough Omega-3s? – Sound Bites Podcast episode #74 with Ellen Schutt

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Music by Dave Birk

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