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Not all fats are created equal. As a matter of fact, some are so good you should eat them everyday. Omega-3 fatty acids have been linked to all sorts of fantastic benefits including improved health of the cardiovascular, nervous and hormonal release systems. Here are just a few of the ways eating this fantastic essential fat will keep you younger.

9 Ways Eating Fat Keeps You Younger
1. Omega-3s reduce inflammation throughout the body.
2. Omega-3s keep the blood from becoming sticky.
3. Omega-3s maintain the fluidity of cell membranes.
4. Omega-3s lower the amount of lipids (fats such as cholesterol and triglycerides) circulating in the bloodstream.
5. Omega-3s decrease platelet aggregation, preventing excessive blood-clotting.
6. Omega-3s increase the activity of a chemical called nitric oxide, which causes arteries to relax and dilate.
7. Omega-3s reduce the production of messenger chemicals called cytokines, which are involved in the inflammatory response associated with atherosclerosis.
8. Omega-3s reduce the risk of becoming obese and improves the body's ability to respond to insulin by stimulating the secretion of leptin, a hormone that helps regulate food intake, body weight, and metabolism and is expressed primarily by adipocytes (fat cells).
9. Omega-3s help reduce cancer growth.

Keeping the omega fatty acids in balance is key to optimal health. Both omega-3 and omega-6 fats are essential for balanced health. The key is to make sure their ratio to each other is balanced in the diet. Our bodies are designed to thrive on three to five times more omega-6 fatty acids versus omega-3s. Our "fast food nation" is typically out of balance with eleven to thirty times more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3s.

Fatty Foods You Should Eat

• Eat fatty fish at least two times per week as recommended by the American Heart Association. Choose fatty fish such as mackeral, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna, and salmon all of which are in in two of the omega-3 fatty acids.
• Eggs yolks, chicken and duck are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids.
  
• Plant-based sources of omega-3 fatty acids are: leafy greens, nuts and seeds.
• Oils that provide a good source of omega 3-fatty acids are soya bean, sunflower, canola, rapeseed, and linseed/flaxseed.
  

Learn more about these fabulous fats in my book, 52 Ways To A Healthy You (Brown Books 2007).

*Special note: Those with congestive heart disease should avoid high amounts of Omega 3's. Please check with your physician before making any dietary changes if you have been diagnosed with a heart condition.