By now, almost everyone’s heard the pitch for fish. Fish oil helps support heart and brain health. And yet, even though fish oil is a key player in fostering good health, Americans rarely include this necessary fat in their diets. Instead, most Americans consume fats found in vegetable oils, and these Omega-6 fats cause the body to release chemicals that promote inflammation. In contrast (and neglected in a world of fast and processed food), the Omega-3 fats in fish oil have been shown to reduce inflammation, keep mental processes sharp, and support a healthy cardiovascular system.
Important Health Support
Since World War II, our intake of Omega-6 fats has doubled while intake of Omega-3 fats has shrunk. Diets rich in Omega-6s may partly explain the increase in diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure, depression, and weight gain. On average, today’s American consumes about forty times as much Omega-6s as Omega-3s when a healthier ratio would be a 2:1 ratio (Omega-6 to Omega-3), which could make a difference in our health today and tomorrow. Omega-3s include eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA), and cold-water fish like mackerel, salmon, cod, flounder, albacore tuna, sardines and anchovies are rich sources.
| 7 Reasons to Take Fish Oil |
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1. Fish oil helps to control inflammation.
2. Fish oil supports heart health.
3. Fish oil helps with discomforts associated with arthritis.
4. Fish oil supports brain health.
5. Fish oil supports weight loss.
6. Fish oil aids prenatal health.
7. Fish oil supports healthy insulin function.
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sources 1-7:
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Amer Jrnl Resp & Crit Care Med, 12/05
CurrOpin ClinNutr Metab Care 2001 Mar;4(2):115-21
Arch Neurol. 2005; 62: 1-5
Cell Metabolism; vol. 1, pp. 309-322, May. 2005
Amer Thor Soc Intrnl Conf 5/25/04
Expel Bio Conf, 2002
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Heart Help. Fish oil’s Omega-3 fats have been shown to produce dramatic benefits for the heart. A European study of people with heart disease found that one gram of fish oil a day for several years reduces the risk of heart attack by 25 percent (Lancet 1999; 354:447-55). Both EPA and DHA support healthy blood vessels, reducing inflammation and the dilation of arteries.
Brain Help. Omega-3s also support the health of an aging brain. In lab tests at the University of California at Los Angeles, researchers found that Omega-3 fats could protect against memory loss and reduce cell damage linked to Alzheimer's disease (Neuron, 9/2/04). In addition, their study suggested that Omega-3s in fish oil can slow the progression of the disease in its later stages.
Membrane Builders. Omega-3s are also linked to supporting the health of cell membranes. Cell membranes regulate the movement of molecules into and out of the cell, and Omega-3s may assist with a cell's natural flexibility. In contrast, high levels of Omega-6s may compromise that function, increasing inflammation and cell rigidity.
Losing Body Fat. Research shows that taking fish oil supplements may burn stored "bad" fat by displacing it with "good" fats like those in fish oils. An increase in Omega-3s can help your body eliminate stored Omega-6s more efficiently. Studies on animals indicate that without adequate Omega-3s in the diet, body fat tends to accumulate.
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