Bring on the Omegas!

Right now I am working on setting some goals for me and for my lifestyle. I am writing out a whole list of things that I want to be able to truthfully say about my well-being in various areas. I might reveal some of that list over time on here, but here is some important information that is influencing my goals for my nutritional health. Perhaps you'd like to consider it for yourself!

It turns out that research is proving that changing your diet to include more fish and certain plants and plant oils can help your health and even your child's school permormance!

Oily fish (like salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring and trout), flaxseed and walnuts all contain omega-3 fatty acids which are proving to be helpful for many people in the following ways:

~prevent cardiovascular disease
~reduce symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases
~prevent or improve condition of people with depression or bipolar disorder
~promote normal vision and brain funtion in babies (a form of omega-3 called DHA occurs naturally in breastmilk and is added to formula)

In a study that was completed in the UK, supplementing with omega-3 oils actually improved children's school performance. I personally know someone whose son was having attention and behaviour problems in school several years back. His teacher/school was pressuring to have him diagnosed (likely with ADHD) and put on medication. Instead the family did a lot of reading and decided to change their diet, eliminating most candy, soda pop, potato chips, and deep-fried food from their diet, and eating fish almost daily. Their son is now thriving!

Here are some of my nutritional status goals that I hope to implement over the next year, if I haven't already. Note that I don't plan on being legalistic about these goals. I just want them to be true of me "in general"!
~I enjoy a well-balanced diet (according to Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating)
~I eat most raw and cooked vegetables
~I eat fish twice a week (specifically, salmon at least once)
~I don't eat french fries or potato chips or donuts

There are more but I'm afraid you might think I'm a little over the top!