Pharmacist Manish Bansal - Omega-3 Fatty Acids Are A Must-Eat for Your Heart

Americans are told time and time again to make sure they include Omega-3 rich foods in their diet in order to support heart health, but are they listening?

According to the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Strategic Impact Goal Through 2020 and Beyond, Americans should be consuming fish and omega-3 fatty acids because this may help reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Specifically, the AHA recommends that people incorporate oily fish into their meals at least twice each week.


“It’s important to grasp that there needs to be a balance in the omega-3 and omega-6,” says Manish Bansal, MD, a pharmacist specializing in cardiovascular health. “The imbalance in these 2 ratios over time has resulted in increasing rates of cardiovascular disease and inflammatory disorders.”

Omega-6 has been implicated in inflammation, and inflammation is widely considered to be the basis of all disease. Unfortunately, the typical American diet includes many foods loaded with omega-6s. This is primarily due to the fact that most processed foods exist in practically all foods that are commercially prepared. While this can’t be avoided, increasing intake in omega-3s can help restore a healthier balance.

“If the patients can further implement a diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids; the antioxidant properties can truly be protective,” Dr. Bansal advises.


Foods rich in Omega-3 can be found everywhere. By category, foods rich in Omega-3 include:

Seafood
  Halibut
  Herring
  Mackerel
  Oysters
  Fresh tuna
  Sardines
  Salmon
  Trout

Fortified Dairy and Juices
Eggs
Milk
Juice
Margarine
Soy milk
Yogurt

Grains and Nuts
Bread
Cereal
Flaxseed
Pasta
Flour
Peanut butter
Oatmeal
Pumpkin seeds
Tortillas (flour)
Walnuts

Realistically, however, not everyone has the time or the interest in micromanaging their meals to ensure proper levels of Omega-3 consumption. One study, published in Nutrition Journal, concluded that more Omega-3 dietary supplementation is needed – especially among women and adolescents. Daily intake has increased greatly over the last 20 years, but does not meet established targets. Luckily, those people can pick up omega-3 supplements at their local pharmacy or even online from a pharmacy website.

Manish K. Bansal MD, FACC, FSCAI Interventional Cardiologist, Health Suite Inc.

Manish K. Bansal MD, FACC, FSCAI Interventional Cardiologist, Health Suite Inc.Dr.

Manish Bansal has 10+ years of experience & expertise in all forms of coronary and peripheral arterial and venous vascular intervention. Peripheral procedures including subclavian, renal, iliac, femoral, popliteal, infrapopliteal, limb salvage, and carotid artery stenting. He is a cardiologist who practices evidence based medicine based on nationally published guidelines.
Please Manish Bansal Pharmacist to read more about him! 

Pharmacist Manish Bansal Florida Says Exercising Up to 20% Below Healthy Average Amount Can Reduce CVD Risk

October 24, 2016

Just a small amount of exercise can provide preventive benefits against risk factors for heart disease, a recent study suggests.

The analysis, slated to be published in the forthcoming edition of the Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention, found that patients with heart disease could lower their mortality risk by maintaining levels of activity up to 20% below what is considered healthy for average people.

Risk factors for cardiovascular disease that can be abated with physical activity include high blood pressure, being overweight or obese, and having high cholesterol or blood sugar.

The findings may come as a relief for patients with heart disease struggling to adjust away from their largely sedentary lifestyles.

"This is great news for people with heart disease who have difficulty adhering to a regular -- mainly aerobic -- exercise program," said study leader Daniel Curnier, a professor at the University of Montreal's Department of Kinesiology, in a press release. "Small improvements in their fitness level are enough. You don't have to be a great athlete to benefit from these effects."

Dr. Manish Bansal, a pharmacist specializing in cardiovascular health, notes that pharmacists are particularly well positioned to dispense such guidance.

"The pharmacist’s role can be very important," he explained. "Many patients have been seeing their same pharmacist for years and have an excellent working relationship. The pharmacist can re-emphasize the importance of physical activity and the benefits"

Community pharmacists in particular may be best placed to offer such guidance. "Patients are generally less stressed out of the office or hospital environment and maybe more amenable to these suggestions," he posits.

Patients view pharmacists as both community members and health care counselors,. As such, they are willing to take a pharmacist’s advice on heart disease prevention steps.

"The pharmacists recommendations and patients’ adherence to physical activity can be life changing," Dr. Bansal emphasized.