February 14, 2009
Health and Fish Oil
The mention of oils and fats will make some health-conscious individuals run for cover. What they fail to realize is that there are good fats and bad 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.
Although there are only very slight differences to distinguish the two groups of essential fatty acids from each other, studies have revealed that too much intake of omega-6 EFAs can lead to inflammation, blood clotting 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 mentioned earlier on, omega-6 EFAs can be found in vegetable oils. This includes corn oil and soy oil among others, which contain high amounts of linoleic acid. You can also find Omega-3 EFAs in walnuts, flaxseed oils, and marine plankton. 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).
EPA and DHA, two essential fatty acids are helpful in preventing depression, some forms of cancer, heart attacks, and atherosclerosis. 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 a Healthier Heart
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. The results revealed that those who ate more fish than the others had a lower level of C-reactive protein and interleukin-6, factors that are commonly used to measure likelihood of blood vessel inflammation. These benefits remained even when the various risks associated with high fish diet were taken into account.
Fish for Weight Loss
A study in Perth, Australia showed fish consumption could be used against hypertension and obesity. Researchers of the UWA (University of Western Australia) have discovered that a weight-loss diet which includes a regular amount of fish consumption can be quite effective in reducing blood pressure and improving glucose tolerance.
Fish Oil to Combat Asthma
People who suffer with problems such as asthma are often thought to be unfit or unhealthy. They should now be pleased to learn that certain studies have revealed the benefits of fish oil for asthma-burdened-individuals. Statistics show that approximately 20 to 25% of children today suffer one form of asthma or another at a certain point 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. Results revealed that the participants who ate more fish were less prone to asthma attacks and were able to breathe more easily as well.
Speak With Your Nutritionist
Nothing is good when consumed or used excessively but complete avoidance of a particular food type is equally harmful as well. Ask your nutritionist for the right amount of fish intake for your age and health status. 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.

































