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Health Benefits Of Fish Oil

Many of us are familiar with the beautiful golden colored fish oil capsules which are becoming so popular in the health market these days. More and more research is coming to the front with evidence of health benefits of fish oil, recommending it as a staple in our everyday diet. You can obtain fish oil by eating “oily” fish or by taking the fish oil extracts in the form of capsules.

What is fish oil really?

It’s basically oil rich in omega 3 fatty acid extracted from the body tissues of “oily” fish. Most common fish oils are extracted from the body of the fish, but it can also be extracted specifically from the liver of the fish ex Cod liver oil or Shark liver oil.

What kinds of fish are used in making fish oil?

The fish that eat microalgae like herring and sardines, accumulate omega 3 fatty acids in their tissues. Then there are other predatory fish that eat such microalgae eating fish, and thus store up these fatty acids. Some of the more popular fish used in the production of Fish oil are.

1. Mackerel
2. Lake trout
3. Flounder
4. Albacore Tuna
5. Salmon
6. Herring
7. Sardine
8. Cod

Shark used to be a source of fish oil, but FDA conducted studies to realize that fishes up the food chain contain high amounts of toxicity in the form of mercury and have excessive PCB content. What is PCB in fish oil? It stands for polychlorinated biphenyl which is toxic substances. There have been some notable lawsuits against certain fish oil brands for the presence of high levels of PCB in their capsules.

What are the nutrients present in fish oil?

Essential Fatty Acids or EFA are highly important to the proper functioning of a human body. Medical studies are gathering evidence of how the levels of EFA are essential to control cholesterol and prevent several cardiovascular diseases. Fish oil is a rich source of Omega 3 fatty acid. It is also a good source of Vitamin A.

List of benefits of fish oil

Here’s a list of the studied benefits of fish oil. Note that many claims have not been backed by authentic medical research but through studies on a sample group.

• Fish oil has been seen to work as a mood stabilizer.  A sample study had suggested that people who take fish oil were found to be in a better mood and less likely to be aggressive.

• Studies are afoot that suggest that fish oil can help in the treatment of clinical depression, especially bi-polar disorder. Several studies have identified the direct link between low levels of omega 3-fatty acids and depression. It’s an interesting stat that countries that indicate the highest intake of fish also correlated with lowest rates of depression.

• A study, at Sydney University, indicated that children who are eat fresh oily fish regularly are at a lower risk of developing Asthma. A separate study indicated that consuming fish oil reduces breathing difficulties in patients.

• Fish oil is being touted as the “heart’s best friend” with several studies confirming the link between omega 3 fatty acids and cardiovascular health. These fatty acids are known to regular the levels of cholesterol in the blood stream.

• Studies have indicated that Fish oil can help reverse conditions like Angina, Congestive heart failure, Stroke, Heart attack and peripheral vascular diseases. It was mentioned that American Health Association advices the consumption of 1g of fish oil daily for cardiovascular health.

• Fish has always been regarded as “brain food” even in the ancient times. There is more and more evidence afoot that indicates that this claim is indeed true. Fish oil is known to help people who are suffering from cognitive dissonance. It’s known to reduce the possibility of suffering from a disease like Alzheimer’s which results from brain dysfunction.

• There have been studies indicating the connection between Parkinson’s and low levels of omega 3 fatty acids. Fish oil has been suggested to provide a protective sheath against the occurrence of Parkinson’s disease.

• The Anti Cancer effects of n-3 fatty acids present in Fish oil is gaining a lot of credence owing to specific studies. It was noted that fish oil provides immunity to the body against diseases like breast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer).

• Fish oil is highly beneficial in treating internal inflammation such as ulcerative colitis and rheumatoid arthritis.

So in conclusion, fish oil has rich benefits when it comes to sustaining health in a human body and more and more studies are providing concrete evidence in this regard. So be sure to supplement your diet with a rich supply of omega 3 fatty acids from fish oil (either by eating fish or consuming fish oil extracts).

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