Fish oil benefits have been the topic of much research in recent years, as scientists are discovering more and more therapeutic applications for the oil and the powerful Omega 3 fatty acids it contains.
What is fish oil exactly and why is it so good for you?
Fish oil is harvested from cold-water fish, including mackerel, tuna, salmon, cod and others. Nutritionists have been recommending including cold water fish as part of a heart healthy diet for years, as it contains two of the most important and easily absorbed Omega 3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA. You may have heard of these two compounds, especially DHA, as there is mounting research regarding their importance.
The Omega 3 fatty acids found in fish oil are essential for heart health, and offer the following heart-specific benefits, among others:
Cardiovascular Benefits of Fish Oil:
Extensive scientific research has concluded that Omega 3 health benefits include:
1) Lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol levels in the body.
2) Stopping the buildup of fatty deposits (triglycerides) in the arteries.
3) Increasing the body’s HDL (good) cholesterol levels.
4) Reducing inflammation in the blood.
Fish oil has also been used to treat conditions such as depression, eczema, IBD, macular degeneration and arthritis. You can see how fish oil benefits the heart significantly, as well as the rest of the body. There are countless ways it can help.
Are you better off eating a lot of fish or taking a supplement?
Although you can get your essential Omega 3 fatty acids from fish, there is the ever-present danger of mercury contamination to contend with, as well as other toxins. This is why women are advised against eating fish during pregnancy, and young children should limit their intake as well.
Another issue that arises is whether or not the fish you eat actually contains the DHA and EPA fatty acids in the concentrations needed to provide the therapeutic fish oil benefits. There’s always a strong possibility that during the manufacturing and handling process these essential Omega 3s are removed.
This is why it makes sense to take a quality fish oil supplement, one that is molecularly distilled, devoid of toxins and with high concentrations of DHA and EPA Omega 3 fatty acids. Most of our diets contain too little Omega 3, and as such supplementation is necessary for cardiovascular health.
Does flax seed oil and other sources of Omega 3s provide the same fish oil benefits?
Other sources of Omega 3’s do not contain EPA and DHA; rather they contain other fatty acids such as ALA, a precursor to these two most beneficial fatty acids, and must be converted in the body. This conversion does not always take place efficiently enough, especially as we get older.
Therefore, fish oil is the best source of these essential Omega 3 fatty acids. Flax seed oil, soybeans, canola and others do not offer DHA and EPA, the two most important Omega 3s. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t incorporate them as part of a heart healthy diet. Flax seeds, especially when they are ground up for easy absorption, offer a number of health benefits as well.
Best Fish Oil Supplement
We have discovered a high quality fish oil supplement that we have been taking ourselves for several years. It contains the highest levels of DHA and EPA, two of the most therapeutic Omega-3 fatty acids.
Unlike most supplements, this product contains molecularly distilled fish oil esters, which is a purified form that is most readily absorbed in the body. It is also free of any contaminants because it is harvested from pristine, clean waters.
Take a look at Omega 3/DHA Fish Oil and see how they can promote a healthy heart today.