Increasing omega 3 intake my lower both anxiety symptoms and proinflammatory cytokines. Medical students receiving omega 3 supplements for 3 months showed a 20% reduction in anxiety and 14% reduction in interleukin 6, a proinflammatory cytokine. An omega 3 deficiency is associated with increased anxiety, which is very common in the US.
Other benefits of omega 3 fatty acids include being antiarrhythmic and anticoagulant, making healthy cell membranes, and helping lift depressive symptoms. Sources of these fatty acids include fish and krill oils and precursors include a variety of seeds and nuts such as flax, hemp, chia, and walnuts.
