What Are The Benefits Of Fish Oil – Fish oil is one of the most popular ‘wonder foods’ in modern alternative medicine. Fish oil benefits are widely known, but it is only recently that scientists and dieticians have started to uncover the reasons fish oil can be so effective.
Herring, mackerel, basa fish, salmon, tuna and sardines are the fattiest types of fish, and are excellent sources of fish oil for human dietary supplementation.
Oil collection and extraction processes are just as important to the effectiveness of the end product as the fish species used. Omega-3 fatty acids are found only in fish and are essential building blocks for bodily systems that malfunction without a consistent supply of all eight essential fatty acids.
When seeking to purchase a daily supplement containing beneficial levels of fish oil, certain information is necessary to make the best decision, including: health benefits, how it works and considerations for personal health.
Fish Oil Health Benefits
Many health challenges that cause pain and suffering can be addressed through the addition of Omega-3 fatty acids.
Omega 3 in Fish Oil Could Lower Breast Cancer Risk
The cardiovascular system benefits from the consistent consumption of fish oil. Reduced occurrence of coronary heart fish oil benefits disease that can result in heart attack or stroke is well-documented. Fish oil has lowered the triglyceride levels in the blood to improve overall health.
Mental health conditions are directly affected by deficiency in fatty acids, including bipolar, schizophrenia and depression. These conditions can be managed when fatty acid levels are increased. Inflammation is reduced when sufficient levels of EPA and DHA are present, and pain symptoms from arthritis decrease.
While alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), the precursor to EPA and DHA, can be found in plant oils, the body must convert the ALA to the usable forms of EPA and DHA.
This conversion process weakens as the body ages, so the best approach is to consume direct sources of the fatty acids, and those only come from fish or the oil extracted from the fish.
Consuming the fats that are healthy for every bodily system is more important than most people realize. Cravings are an indication of nutritional deficiency and supplying what the body needs requires knowledge and sensitivity to the body’s signals.
Fish Oil Side Effects
Certain factors reduce the effectiveness of oil that has been extracted from fish. When processors heat the fish or the oil, the molecular structure of the oil is changed and no longer carries the benefits originally sought.
Simply collecting fish oil from scrap fish caught accidentally or using fish parts left from processing other products does not yield a nutritious source of the EPA and DHA fatty acids so essential to health. People with high cholesterol levels may experience a rise in blood cholesterol levels when fish oil is consumed. Anyone taking blood thinners must be aware that oil from fish has a tendency to thin the blood.
Fish Oil Dosage
An exact dose has never been established because the industry is not standardized although there are a range of suggested dosages that depend on the reason for use. Capsules from 500 to 1000 milligrams are common and should be taken according to label instructions.
The most important label information is the number of milligrams of each of the fatty acids. When those individual numbers are added together, the dosage number should be equal. Any discrepancy signals the presence of filler. Research the available products and ask the manufacturer any questions that are not answered on the label.
