Though it's widely known that smoking can substantially threaten your health, many Americans find it incredibly difficult to shake the habit once they've started. While forgoing nicotine is the best way to promote your long-term physical and cognitive abilities, a new study has shown that a well-known brain enhancer may at least be able to mitigate some of the damage that smoking can cause.
Published in the International Journal of Cardiology this month, the research has revealed that smokers who take omega-3 fatty acids on a daily basis can potentially offset some of the most harmful side effects of smoking. This habit has been shown to increase the risk of cardiac problems and stroke by altering the structure and function of blood vessels and damaging heart tissue, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute states.
However, scientists from the University of Athens Medical School in Greece have found that omega-3 can potentially counter the damage inflicted on the body's arterial system.
"We examined the effects of omega-3 [polyunsaturated fatty acids or PUFAs] supplementation on smoking-induced impairment of vascular function, and we searched for an impact of omega-3 PUFAs on inflammatory process and on smoking-induced alterations of fibrinolytic system," the abstract states.
The researchers ultimately found that these brain enhancers did make a noticeable difference for smokers who were otherwise healthy.
"Treatment with omega-3 PUFAs improved endothelial function and the elastic properties of the arterial tree in healthy smokers, with a parallel anti-inflammatory effect," they concluded.
Facilitating healthy blood flow is just one of the many benefits of omega-3 fatty acids. Click to read more information about our omega-3 supplements and other brain support products.