Omega-3 Fatty Acids Excellent For Heart Health, Recommends RWJ Hamilton's Cardiology Chief
Ron Ryder, DO, Lectures on Subject During Love Your Heart – Heart Fair, this Saturday

HAMILTON, NEW JERSEY – The term "omega-3 fatty acids" is making national headlines. It caught the attention of Americans following a recommendation from the American Heart Association (AHA) that omega-3 provides tremendous benefits to people with cardiac disease as well as to those who are healthy.

Ron Ryder, DO, Cardiology Chief at RWJ Hamilton

"Omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce the incidence of sudden cardiac death by 50 to 70 percent," says Cardiologist Ronald Ryder, DO, Section Chief of Cardiology at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton. "It reduces inflammation in the body and slows the growth of plaque in coronary arteries, which helps decrease blood pressure."

The most common place to find omega-3 is in fish. Dr. Ryder recommends eating fatty fish, like salmon and tuna, at least twice a week to ensure ample omega-3 consumption. Alternative foods that are rich in omega-3 include nuts, canola oil, tofu, wheat germ, dried beans, green leafy vegetables, flax seed, flax seed oil and soybean oil.

Omega-3 Aids the Body in Many Ways
Research has shown that omega-3 fatty acids lower triglyceride levels, raise HDL cholesterol levels (known as the "good cholesterol"). Omega-3 improves the ability of the arteries to dilate and increase blood flow on demand in diabetics as well as patients with high cholesterol. Its potential to slow the progression of Alzheimers disease, curtail depression in children and enhance immune function has also been studied.

"Increasing your omega-3 intake should be part of a well-rounded diet and combined with regular exercise to maintain optimal cardiovascular health," says Ryder, who cites that there are approximately 250,000 sudden cardiac deaths among adults living in the United States each year.

Ryder to Speak at Heart Fair as Part of American Heart Month
In observance of American Heart Month, RWJ Hamilton will host its annual Love Your Heart – Heart Fair this Saturday. The event is part of the hospital's month-long series of classes, screenings and events that focus on the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

The heart fair includes a lecture by Dr. Ryder on identifying risk factors of cardiac disease as well as the importance of developing a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

The free Love Your Heart – Heart Fair is Saturday, February 10, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the RWJ Hamilton Center for Health & Wellness, 3100 Quakerbridge Road, Mercerville, New Jersey. Activities will be held in Conference Rooms A and B, the Healthy Cooking Kitchen, as well as Classrooms 2 and 3.

Activities include health screenings from 9 to 11 a.m. Michael Tuccillo, CDM, Director of Food and Nutrition at RWJ Hamilton, will lead a cooking demonstration of delicious heart-healthy dishes from 11 a.m. until 12 noon. Dr. Ryder will lecture from 12 noon to 1 p.m. A pharmacist and dietitian from RWJ Hamilton also will be available to discuss concerns regarding medications and diet throughout the event.

Attendees are encouraged to register for this free event in advance through HealthConnection, (609) 584-5900.

More About RWJ Hamilton
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJ Hamilton) is the only New Jersey hospital to receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Located in Hamilton Township, NJ, the hospital is part of the RWJ Health System and Network and is affiliated with the University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey-RWJ Medical School and the Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

The RWJ Hamilton Health Care Corporation serves communities within a five-county area and includes an acute care hospital, the Cancer Institute of New Jersey Hamilton, three affiliated medical groups, seven Lakeview Child Centers, and the RWJ Hamilton Center for Health & Wellness, home of a medically-based fitness center and the hospital's extensive community education program. Over 1,900 hospital employees and 650 medical staff physicians share RWJ Hamilton's passion for Excellence Through Service. For more information, visit www.rwjhamilton.org.