A lot of women hear the word 'fat' and actively avoid (or at least, think about avoiding) whatever substance is offered to them.

Many might be surprised to know that there is a type of fat is actually beneficial for their health, and could even help improve their memory.

Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fat most commonly found in marine plants and oils and have long been hailed as health and beauty necessities.

Where can we get them?

First and foremost, you need to know where these little beauties are found.

Omega-3 fats are not naturally produced by the body so must either be ingested through food or supplements.

Oily fish such as tuna, salmon, and sardines are rich in omega-3 fats, as are vegetable sources such as walnuts and pumpkin seeds.

They can also be found in supplements and some beauty oils.

Memory benefits

A University of Pittsburgh research team recently published results regarding omega-3's ability to improve memory.

The team tested young, healthy individuals to see if six months of omega-3 supplementation did anything for their memory.

At the end of the experiment, they all showed signs of memory enhancement.

"We found that members of this population can enhance their working memory performance even further, despite them already being at the top of their cognitive game," commented the lead researcher, neuro-scientist Bita Moghaddam.

Other health benefits

Omega-3 doesn't just do wonders for our memory; extensive research indicates that omega-3 fats are handy for a whole host of other health-related things.

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMM), omega-3’s may also improve: artery health, cholesterol, joint health, bone health, lung health and menstrual health.

Many men and women also like to use omega-3 for their skin.

Owing to its anti-inflammatory properties, omega-3 can help alleviate skin disorders such as dry skin, acne and psoriasis.

As if that wasn't enough, some scientists have even linked omega-3 to cancer prevention - claiming that colon, breast, and prostate cancers have all been correlated with low intakes of omega-3.

Posted by Freya Harper