Fish Oil for Your Health

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Thursday, April 2nd, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed

When the words oils and fats are mentioned, health-conscious individuals tend to run for cover. What many do not realize is that there are bad fats and good fats. Completely avoiding oils and fats would be detrimental to their health.

Fish Oil - The Truth

Essential fatty acids must always be part of our daily diet – without them, we take one step closer to our deaths. Essential fatty acids are divided into two families: omega-6 EFAs and omega-3 EFAS.

There are only minor differences in the two groups of essential fatty acids, however studies show that too much omega-6 EFAs may lead to blood clotting, inflammation and tumor growth. But the good news is the opposite is true of omega-3 EFAs. Omega-6 EFAs can be found in vegetable oils while omega-3 EFAs can be found in fish oils among other foods.

Omega-6 vs. Omega-3

Physicians and scientists are of the same opinion that the cause behind increasing cases of heart disease, hypertension or high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, premature aging and certain kinds of cancer is none other than an imbalanced intake of omega-3 and omega-6 EFAs.

As previously mentioned, omega-6 EFAs are present in vegetable oils. This includes corn oil and soy oil among others, which contain high amounts of linoleic acid. Omega-3 EFAs on the other hand can be found also in marine plankton and walnut and flaxseed oils. It should be significant to take note that fatty fish and fish oils contain eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), fatty acids that have been observed to provide many benefits to the human body. In the early 1970’s, a study on Greenland Eskimos have revealed that one of the major reasons why they rarely suffer from heart diseases is because of their high-fat diet (mainly composed of fish).

The two essential fatty acids, EPA and DHA, are also helpful in preventing atherosclerosis, heart attacks, depression and various forms of cancer. Food supplemented with fish oil have proven to be benefical in treating illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis, Raynaud’s disease, ulcerative colitis and diabetes.

Other Benefits of Fish Oil

There’s a lot more illnesses for which fish oil has been shown to be extremely beneficial.

Making the Heart Healthier

The heart is inarguably one of the most important parts of our body and having an unhealthy heart means having to suffer a rather limited lifespan. Naturally, it’s in our best interests to keep our hearts happy and healthy and one way of doing that is eating food that contains fish oil.

A study in Athens Greece showed a direct relationship between inflammation of blood vessels and high fish diets. Results revealed that those who consumed larger amounts of fish had lower C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 levels, factors commonly used to measure blood vessel inflammation. These benefits remained even when the various risks associated with high fish diet were taken into account.

Fish to Become Thin

In Perth, Australia, a study had revealed that fish consumption can be used against hypertension and obesity. Researchers at the University of Western Australia found that a weight loss diet that included fish consumption was very effective in improving glucose tolerance and reducing blood pressure.

Fish Oil to Combat Asthma

People suffering from respiratory problems like asthma tend to be perceived as unfit and unhealthy. They should now be pleased to learn that certain studies have revealed the benefits of fish oil for asthma-burdened-individuals. Statistics have shown that close to 25 percent of kids today will suffer some type of asthma in their lives. And certain evidence reveals a regular diet of food with high linoletic acid content as the reason behind it.

Researchers at the University of Wyoming conducted a study which subjected a number of children to a diet high in fish while others ate a regular diet. The results shows that participants who consumed more fish were able to breathe more easily and were less prone to asthma attachs as well.

Consult Your Nutritionist Now

Nothing is good when consumed or used excessively but complete avoidance of a particular food type is equally harmful as well. Consult with your nutritionist regarding the correct amount of fish for your health status and age. Give fish oil a try and see the benefits to your health. You can try fish oil for free and discover for yourself if it works for you.

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