When the Omega diet was compared to the American Heart Association diet, the patients on the Omega diet had a 76 percent lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease or suffering a heart failure, heart attack or stroke. The Omega diet works to restore your body's essential nutritional balance. "Good fats," essential fatty acids, influence every aspect of the body; from keeping the heart beating to the mind's ability to learn and remember.

Omega-6 and Omega-3 are the two types of essential fatty acids. The problem with a modern diet is that it contains far more Omega-6 fatty acids than Omega-3. This imbalance makes the body more vulnerable to heart disease, cancer, obesity, autoimmune diseases, allergies, diabetes and depression.

The health care professionals at the Preventive Cardiology Clinic recommends following the seven dietary guidelines of the Omega diet:

1. Eat foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids such as fatty fish (salmon, tuna, trout, herring, mackerel), walnuts, canola oil, flax seeds and green, leafy vegetables. Or, if you prefer, take Omega-3 supplements.
2. Use monounsaturated oils such as olive oil and canola oil as your primary fat.
3. Eat seven or more servings of fruit and vegetables every day.
4. Eat more vegetable protein, including peas, beans and nuts.
5. Avoid saturated fat by choosing lean meat over fatty meat (if you eat meat) and low-fat over full-fat milk products.
6. Avoid oils that are high in Omega-6 fatty acids, including corn, safflower, sunflower, soybean and cotton seed oils.
7. Reduce your intake of trans-fatty acids by cutting back on margarine, vegetable shortening, commercial pastries, deep-fat fried food, and most prepared snacks, mixes and convenience food.