Omega-3s and Your Health

If you're like many Americans, you're paying more and more attention to trans fats and omega-3s. You may also feel overwhelmed by the glut of information available on how diet affects health.

The Queen of Fats: Why Omega-3s Were Removed from the Western Diet and What We Can Do to Replace Them, by Susan Allport, is a much-needed guide to what these essential fatty acids are and how to ensure we're eating enough of them. An award-winning science writer for publications such as the New York Times, Allport has spent the past decade exploring how food shapes behavior and health.

In a recent interview with Associate Director and Publisher Sheila Levine, Allport revealed that she first became fascinated with omega-3s when she learned that they are a critical component of cell membranes in both animals and plants, particularly in the tissues that perform the fastest cellular activities.

Her investigation into biochemistry, diets around the world, food production and processing, and health trends provides a compelling case for the importance of omega-3s. The book includes plenty of practical dietary and health tips; as the author told Levine, "Readers can see where we went wrong with the previous advice and how they can make the necessary changes in their diets to improve their health."

Read the complete interview, or visit the book's website.

Susan Allport recently appeared on NPR's Science Friday to discuss good fats, bad fats, and how to sort them out. Download a podcast of the show.