New research recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has shown that a daily dose of omega-3 found in cod liver oil could help slow ageing. Factors such as fast food, stress, lack of exercise and generally a faster paced life have all been linked with speeding up the ageing process, however including certain vitamins and minerals in the diet, such as omega-3 appear to slow this process down. Scientists from the University of California, San Francisco examined telomeres, which are strands of DNA found at the end of chromosomes.
Damage to this DNA occurs during the ageing process, however the research showed that the omega-3 found in cod liver oil can in fact help protect against cellular ageing by slowing down the rate at which these telomeres shorten. The study involved over 600 men and women suffering with heart disease, and was conducted over a 6 year period.Each patient had their telomeres measured along with their blood level of omega-3 before and after the study. Those who had the highest levels of omega-3 in their blood had seen their telomeres shrink the least. The research indicated that higher levels of omega-3 shielded the DNA contained within the telomeres helping protect against inflammation and other ageing processes.
According to lead researcher Dr Ramin Farzaneh-Far "the study demonstrates a potentially novel pathway for the anti-ageing effects of omega-3 fatty acids." Omega-3 is regarded as essential, as it cannot be produced by the body and can therefore only be obtained through the diet.For many of us, it can be difficult to include oily fish into our diet; thankfully there are easier ways of ensuring we achieve the levels of omega-3 in the form of cod liver oil which is a rich natural source. Cod liver oil combines omega-3 with vitamins A, D and E which has been used by women of all ages around the world for years as part of their daily health and beauty regime, helping to maintain healthy hair, skin and nails.
For women, this new research comes as welcome news in the continuing quest to fight the signs of ageing. The omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish and cod liver oil also has a mood-boosting effect, you should eat at least two servings of oily fish such as mackerel, sardines or salmon twice a week, or supplement daily with a capsule of one-a-day cod liver oil.