A study by the American College of Cardiology discovered that eating foods high in Omega-3 fatty acids leads patients to live at least 3 years longer than those who didn’t eat those heart-healthy foods after a heart attack, stroke, or another life-threatening event.
In the study, researchers checked in with 944 patients years after their first hospitalization. What they found was those with the highest levels of Omega-3 in their blood were also the healthiest, while those who didn’t eat these Omega-3-rich foods were either readmitted to the hospital with new heart problems or had died within the 3 years.
Different types of Omega-3s
For your information, Omega-3 comes in two types; Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). The study found that both appear to be beneficial to patients who have had heart disease.
EPA is found in marine foods like fatty fish, while ALA is found in plant-based foods such as walnuts as well as hemp seeds, flax seeds, edamame, kidney beans, and Brussels sprouts, along with other whole plant-based foods.
If you follow a plant-based diet and want some great sources of Omega-3s, check out this article from The Beet.
