The Great Cholesterol Myth: Why Lowering Your Cholesterol Won't Prevent Heart Disease--and the Statin-Free Plan that Will

by Jonny Bowden

It’s worth mentioning that the overwhelming majority of research on omega-3s and heart disease was done using the two omega-3s that are found in fish, EPA and DHA. But other studies have also found that ALA—the omega-3 found in plant foods such as flax and flaxseed oil—has benefits for the heart as well. One review of the literature pointed out that both in vitro (test-tube) studies and animal studies have shown that ALA can prevent ventricular fibrillation, the chief mechanism of cardiac death, and that it might be even more efficient at preventing this than EPA and DHA are. The review also noted that ALA was effective at lowering platelet aggregation, which is an important step in thrombosis (a stroke or nonfatal heart attack).