Fish Oil & Omega-3 Supplement Benefits

Omega-3 fatty acids are important building blocks of our cell membranes, signaling pathways and neurological systems. They play a critical role in many functions in the body and are essential for good health. 

What are omega-3's and what are the best omega-3 sources? The omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFA's) are polyunsaturated fats or the so-called "good fats". These desirable fats cannot be made by the human body, so they must be obtained from foods or supplemental sources. These fats are required for normal development of the brain, eyes and nerve tissue in humans. Clinical studies show that omega-3 benefits come primarily from DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) found in fish oils.

10 Omega-3 benefits proven by clinical studies: (refs at end of article)

1. Helps Improve Heart Health – omega-3 fish oil benefits include reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, reducing the risk of heart-related sudden death and lowering unhealthy triglyceride levels, often raised by eating fructose. In fact, the American Heart Association recommends two servings of fish a week for healthy persons and one serving per day of fish or fish oil supplement containing at least 900mg of fish oil for persons with heart disease.
2. Helps Lower Cancer Risk - studies on omega-3 benefits have linked lowered risk of breast cancer and prostate cancer to the consumption of fish oil.
3. Helps Improve Memory and Brain Function - DHA and fish oil have been proven to stimulate memory and the ability to learn. Research has shown that mothers who take supplemental DHA during their pregnancy and lactation may significantly increase their baby's IQ.
4. Helps Improve Mood - persons suffering from mood disorders such as depression benefit from omega-3 fish oil supplementation. The lack of omega-3 fatty acids (especially DHA) has been linked by researchers to depression.
5. Helps Reduce Risk of Developing Alzheimer's Disease - clinical studies suggest that fish oil and DHA may protect the nervous system in humans.
6. Helps Reduce Allergies - fish oil protects against the symptoms of hay fever, sinus infections, asthma, certain food allergies and allergic skin conditions like hives and eczema.
7. Helps Improve Skin and Hair Health - fish oil helps protect the skin against damage from UV exposure, and skin disorders such as psoriasis can consider fish oil supplementation a treatment option.
8. Helps Reduce Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms – omega-3 benefits come from the EPA and DHA in fish oil that reduce the amount of compounds causing inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis and other forms of inflammatory arthritis.
9. Helps Improve Eye Health - consuming fish oil is related to lowered risk of developing age related macular degeneration, an increasing common eye disease in people over 50.
10. Helps Reduce PMS Symptoms in Women – omega-3 is converted into substances called 'prostaglandins type-3' that control contractions of the uterus, which cause the cramping.

Fish Oil Benefits - Clinical Studies
 

Cardiovascular Benefits: Heart disease is a widespread health problem in modern society. Fish oil, rich in omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA) has been proven in many clinical studies to benefit heart health, also supported by the American Heart Association guidelines

Lowers Triglycerides: The effectiveness of fish oil in lowering blood triglycerides (fats) known to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, has been well established in multiple clinical studies.

Benefits Hypertension (High blood pressure): Fish oil has been shown to lower mild hypertension when it is due to cardiovascular disease, specifically high cholesterol and atherosclerosis (hardening of the artery walls).

Anti-clotting: Fish oil helps avoid thrombosis (blood clots) as it prevents platelets (smallest cells in the blood) to stick together and form blood clots.

Reduces Heart Irregularities: Fish oil - especially the DHA content of it - has been shown to lower heart rates and also prevent arrhythmias (disturbances of the normal rhythm in the heart's beating), thus decreasing the chance of sudden death by a heart attack.

Circulatory problems: Circulatory problems such as varicose veins and Raynaud's disease benefit from fish oil. Fish oil stimulates blood circulation and increases the breakdown of fibrin, a compound involved in clot and scar formation.

Depression: Persons with mood disorders such as depression benefit from fish oil supplementation. Lack of omega-3 fatty acids and in particular DHA has been linked by researchers to depression.

Aggression: A new study of teenagers has found that fish oil and DHA consumption relates to lower hostility rates in teenagers. Hostility has been shown to predict the development and manifestation of heart disease.

Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), dyslexia and dyspraxia: Like depression and other mood disorders, persons who suffer from ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia (absence of ability to perform coordinated skilled movements or clumsiness) benefit from fish oil supplementation.

Memory, learning and Alzheimer's Disease: Studies have proven that omega-3 fatty acids improve brain function and that intake of fish oil and DHA is linked to a lowered risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Studies suggest that fish oil and DHA may protect the nervous system.

Allergies

Studies show that omega-3 fatty acid-intake by mothers during pregnancy may protect babies against the development of allergies. Fish oil has been found to protect against symptoms of hay fever, sinus infections, asthma, food allergies and allergic skin conditions such as hives and eczema

Skin disorders and skin health

Skin disorders such as psoriasis have been shown to improve from fish oils. In the skin of persons with psoriasis the amount of compounds causing inflammation is many times greater than normal. Fish oil inhibits the production of these inflammatory compounds. Fish oil improves the health of skin, nails and hair.

Arthritis and gout

Fish oil supplements have been shown to benefit in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and other inflammatory forms of arthritis, such as occurs in some persons with psoriasis and gout. EPA and DHA in fish oil reduce the amount of compounds causing inflammation.

Diabetes

Diabetics suffering from non-insulin dependent diabetes or type II diabetes benefit from fish oil supplementation. Research shows that persons who consume 5-10 percent of their dietary energy consumption in the form of fish or fish oil, have less insulin resistance.

Immune system and cancer

The intake of fish oil has been proven to be beneficial for the body's immune function. Research has linked intake of fish oil to a lowered risk of breast cancer and prostate cancer.

Women's benefits

The consumption of fish oil lowers the risk for cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis in post-menopausal women. (Pre)Menstrual symptoms such as menstrual pain are often alleviated from the use of fish oil supplementation. Omega-3 fatty acids are converted into pain relieving substances (prostaglandins type-3) that control contractions of the uterus, which cause the cramping.

Visual function

Research has shown that consumption of fish oil is linked to lowered risk of age related macular degeneration, an eye condition which is the leading cause of severe visual loss in people over age 50.

Inflammatory bowel disease

Fish oil has been proven to be beneficial in intestinal health. Fish oil has an anti-inflammatory effect in inflammatory bowel disease (Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease).
 

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References

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