Omega is the last letter of the Greek alphabet.
The letter that occupies the last place in the Greek alphabet is called omega . It is, therefore, the symbol that is located in the 24th position of said alphabet .
Omega has a shape similar to the O , although with an opening at the bottom. Its name could be understood as “Big O” , which places this letter as the opposite of omicron ( “Small O” , the 15th letter of the Greek alphabet).
Uses of the letter omega
The letter omega is often used as a symbol in various areas, both in its uppercase and lowercase versions. Electrical resistance, angular frequency and angular velocity in physics , for example, are symbolized by this letter.
Being the last letter in the order of the Greek alphabet, omega also allows us to symbolically designate the end of something; just as alpha represents the beginning. In the Catholic religion , it is said that Jesus Christ is “the alpha and the omega” , since he is the beginning and the end of all things.
Within the field of biochemistry , the notion of omega refers to the amount of carbons existing from the end of an aliphatic type chain. Acids classified as omega 3 , in this sense, are those that have three carbons from the end of the chain and before the corresponding double bond.
Fish is a food rich in omega 3 acids.
A type of fatty acid
Omega 3 acids , abundant in walnuts, tuna and other foods, help brain development and reduce the possibility of cardiovascular disease , among other benefits for those who consume them.
Omega 3 fatty acids cannot be produced by the human body through synthesis , so not ingesting them through food is ensuring their lack in our body. The abundant plant sources of this ingredient are flax seeds, inchi, chia; as well as dried fruits, especially walnuts and chestnuts.
Eating a high amount of omega 3 fatty acids is extremely beneficial for the blood since it contributes considerably to coagulation, which prevents the appearance of vascular or blood diseases. On the other hand, it is an ingredient that can bring high benefits to the functioning of our brain, and high quantities could reduce the risk of contracting certain diseases, such as depression or stress .
Problems due to lack of omega 3
The lack of omega 3 in our diet can bring us some health problems . Among them we can mention problems in the functioning of our brain (problems concentrating and remembering things), deficits in our immune system (the body becomes more prone to contracting diseases), cardiovascular problems and negative cholesterol (so we have already explained). Likewise, people who do not consume a good dose of omega 3 tend to experience sudden mood changes and become depressed since this fatty acid profoundly influences all functions linked to the brain. Superficial symptoms also appear such as dry hair and skin, eczema due to lack of an essential antioxidant to protect the body's cells.
Omega 3 acid, as you can see, is essential for maintaining a healthy body, so we recommend that you do not stop eating those foods that can provide you with it; You should know that there are many plant sources from which to acquire it, so if we follow a vegetarian diet we can still access foods rich in omega 3.