A sedentary lifestyle combined with poor diet and high stress has made heart disease the number one killer in North America. Each year millions of people develop the disease who are unaware of, or do not understand the benefits of fish oil.
Here are the 3 common health conditions protected against by fish oil:
1) Heart disease - Fish oil benefits include protecting the heart from several conditions that lead to heart failure such as high triglycerides, high blood pressure and rapid heart rate. Many people think of heart disease as a condition that affects people when they get old. However, men and woman past the age of thirty have already begun to develop artery plaque leading to heart disease. Approximately forty percent of all deaths in North America result from heart disease. Individuals past the age of fifty are at highest risk level.
It is a common misunderstanding that high cholesterol intake is the number one cause of hardening of the arteries leading to heart failure. In reality, a diet high in saturated fat has a greater impact on triglyceride levels and blood cholesterol than eating a high cholesterol diet.
Health researchers have examined a number of health conditions in association with the consumption of fish oil in both men and women. The major benefits come from components of fish oil known as EPA and DHA. The advantage to taking fish oil over plant sources of omega 3 is that it provides a source of omega 3 fatty acids that is immediately absorbed by the body.
Plant sources have to go through a transformation process before being absorbed. Flax seed, for instance, contains alpha-linolenic acid which the body needs to convert into DHA and EPA. Unfortunately, not everyone can make the conversion. Another benefit is that omega 3 found in fish oil is able to produce prostaglandins, substances which are important in many body functions such as maintaining hormone production, blood pressure and kidney function.
EPA and DHA in fish oil benefit the body by are reducing the risk of heart disease. Not only are these long chain fatty acids effective in reducing high cholesterol levels but also in reducing heart threatening, triglyceride levels. They also are able to prevent blood clots which can cause a heart attack.
2) Deteriorating brain health – Recently scientific research has found that EPA fish oil has a profound benefit on brain health and behavior. It is now believed that it may have a positive impact on mood. Nations that consume the highest amounts of fish oil have the lowest rates of depression. High fish oil consumption has also been found to improve postpartum depression, seasonal affective disorder and bipolar disorder. Other studies show that fish oil supplements can help diminish anxiety and protect against mental decline.
The North American diet has caused a severe imbalance between omega 6 and omega 3 in the body. One study found individuals with high omega 6 blood levels with low omega 3 blood levels were at highest risk for mental decline. Those that had high omega 3 blood levels were protected against decline. Another study concluded that fish consumption once a week produced a sixty percent lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
3) Learning and behavior problems in children – Children will greatly benefit from adequate intake of EPA and DHA fish oil. Learning and behavioral disorders are associated with lack of omega-3 fatty acids. Fortunately, they respond well to fish oil. Disrupting and underachieving children improve dramatically after receiving supplementation.
Today there is a type of fish oil available called pharmaceutical grade fish oil, which is the most effective type of fish oil available=. It contains a highly concentrated form of EPA, DHA, omega 3 fats which are free from heavy metals like mercury.
Be sure to verify that a product claiming to be pharmaceutical grade is authentic. One way to be sure is if the label has USP printed on it. USP is one of the chief governing bodies which ensure products have been tested for quality and potency. If it is not USP certified look for label information that shows that the product has been tested for potency and quality in a certified facility.
