Tag Archives: Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Fish Oil Benefits

In the quest to achieve better health and wellness, fish oil supplements have become an increasingly popular way to take advantage of many different medical benefits. Fish oil originates from the tissues of oily fish, such as carp, herring, salmon, and fresh tuna. Today, fish oil is recommended as part of a healthy diet because of the amount of omega-3 fatty acids contained, which is known to reduce inflammation throughout the body and lessen the threat of coronary heart disease (among other things).

There are two main ways to include fish oil as part of a healthy diet. The first involves the consumption of oily fish, including sardines and cod, which contain oils throughout their body and about their gut, unlike other species of fish. Depending on the species, oily fish fillets may offer up to 30% oil. Besides omega-3 fatty acids, oily fish also provides a good source of vitamins A and D.

The second approach towards increasing the amount of fish oils in a diet is to purchase fish oil capsules or supplements. Many people are said to prefer the consumption of fish oil capsules because they are easy to follow and do not require laborious measurements in making sure recommended daily values are satisfied. To explore some of the many benefits associated with fish oil supplements and consumption, a few examples can be found below:

Decreased Pain Levels and Inflammation

Omega-3 fatty acids may posses the power to lessen inflammation in the body, as well as ease the pain associated with arthritis and cystitis. Rheumatoid arthritis patients often report an improvement in joint pains and inflammation when taking fish oil supplements.

Treats Depression and Stress

Some individuals have been able to ease their symptoms of depression by implementing omega-3 fish oil supplements into their diet. Fish oils have also been linked to showing promise in treating bipolar and psychotic patients. Supplements may also help to promote the overall mood of patients, and may even reduce premenstrual stress.

Cardiovascular Improvements

The heart, arteries, and veins may benefit from fish oil because it has been known to help lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure, while at the same time improving “good” cholesterol levels.

Fights Strokes and Heart Attack

The threat of stroke and heart attack may be decreased with the introduction of fish oils into a diet because they may help to prevent blood clots and other damage to the heart. A decreased risk of sudden death and heart attacks has also been seen.

Enhances Brain Activity

Fish oil is known to boost intelligence and overall happiness in users, as well as improve the memory and ability to stay focused. In the elderly, the risk of dementia and memory loss sometimes decreases with the use of fish oil supplements. Additionally, mothers who consume or take a high amount of omega-3/fish oils during pregnancy often give birth to children with a higher IQ.

Combats Childhood Disorders

Children, who suffer from disorders, such as ADD and ADHD, have experienced a better quality of life when incorporating fish oil fatty acids into their diet. Additional conditions that respond to fish oils include dyslexia and compulsive disorders.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Lori Matthews studies health, nutrition and wellness. She enjoys writing articles on health for both people and pets. Please visit benefits of taking pharmaceutical grade fish oil supplements for more information.

Alternatives To Salmon ? Which Fish Contain Omega 3

Let’s face it.  A lot of experts have been telling people for years to increase there fish intake to elevate their levels of n-3 fatty acids, but which fish contain omega 3 fatty acids in the highest quantities?  When people think about omega 3 fatty acids, the fish that probably comes to mind first is salmon.  There are many other fatty fish that contain high levels of these essential nutrients as well.

Let me just go over for a moment why increasing your levels of omega 3 fatty acids is necessary.  The foods that have become staples in our diets are incredibly high in omega 6 fatty acids, often providing us with up to 8 times as much n-6 fatty acids as they do n-3s.  Extremely high levels of n-6 fatty acids without enough n-3s to counteract them are the cause of the inflammatory diseases that so many of us suffer.

We need to increase the amount of n-3 fatty acids we are getting so that we can establish a balance between our n-6s and n-3s; because only by having equal amounts of both in our system can we prevent inflammatory diseases from occurring.  Now, let’s take a look to determine other than salmon, which fish contain omega 3 fatty acids in the highest quantities.

The fish with the highest omega 3 content behind salmon are herring, anchovies, sablefish, whitefish, cisco, sardines, halibut, and rainbow trout.  All of these fish provide 1.5 to 2.5 grams of omega 3 fatty acids per 100 gram serving, which is a serving size of about 3.5 ounces.  Oysters actually provide more of these essential fatty acids per serving than either rainbow trout or herring.

Now that you know which fish contain omega 3 fatty acids in the highest doses, I will list for you some seafood items that will also provide these nutrients, albeit in smaller amounts.  These include mussels, sea bass, shrimp, roe, Pollock, carp, flatfish, squid, crab, and lobster.  These creatures all provide you with less than one gram per serving.

The American Heart Association recommends that you eat fish rich in omega 3 fatty acids at least twice a week, because these nutrients are well know for their ability to prevent heart disease.  As beneficial as the nutrients in fish can be, I wouldn’t recommend that you eat it as often as is recommended.  Most fish today possess high levels of toxic mercury, lead, PCBs, and other contaminants.

A better way for you to ensure that you are getting the essential nutrients that you need is by taking a concentrated DHA omega 3 fish oil supplement.  The fish oil in side of these gelcaps has been through a proprietary purification process and molecular distillation, so it is sure to be free of impurities.  Although unnecessary when taking a high quality fish oil supplement, at least you which fish contain omega 3 in high doses should you decide to have some.

Make no mistake about it.  Knowing which fish contain omega 3 fatty acids isn’t nearly as important as knowing that a DHA omega 3 fish oil supplements safely provides you with the high dose of omega 3 fatty acids that you need.

Laurel Cohen is a strong advocate of natural health in all its forms: skin care, supplementation, and farm fresh foods. She enjoys introducing people to the best natural products she can find and uses herself daily. Visit her site http://www.omega-3-for-health.com to learn about the omega 3 fish oils Laurel uses daily for optimal health.