A link between omega-3 fatty acids and cardiovascular health was first suggested after it was observed that the Greenland Inuit people had low mortality from coronary heart disease despite consuming a high-fat diet. In the 1970s, it was suggested that this could be because of the high content of omega-3 fatty acids in the Inuit diet, which consisted largely of fish, seal and whale. What are omega-3 fatty acids and how might they reduce cardiovascular risk and improve cardiovascular health?