Fish Oil Health Benefits

If you have been reading basic scientific literature, or if you have been watching advertisements on Internet sites recently, then you might have come across invitations to try fish oil.

Fish oil is not simply oil extracted from any fish. It is the deep ocean fish that are used to get omega-3 fatty acids, which come in the form of docosaheaenoic acid, or DHA, and eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA. Many plant sources such as oil seeds can give the body omega-3 fatty acids, but these fatty acids have to be processed into DHA and EPA, a process that can be slow and difficult in some people who lack the necessary enzymes, or in the elderly.

Because DHA and EPA are already available in utilizable form in fish oil, this kind of oil can be useful for supporting the health of the body during many different ailments. Researchers are studying how EPA can help decrease your body's often painful responses to certain allergens or stimuli. This inflammatory response can lead to arthritis or cyst formations; with a good dose of EPA, the body might be persuaded to ease its immune responses. This is why one of the fish oil health benefits is how it may help people with arthritis.

In general, fish oil has also been shown to promote cardiovascular health. Omega-3 fatty acids can lower cholesterol build up in arteries, which can clog them, and which can cause heart attacks. Omega-3 fatty acids can also lower the amounts of dangerous triglycerides; as well as low density lipoproteins or LDL, the so-called bad cholesterol. In effect, omega-3 fatty acids may help support lower blood pressure, which can be increased when some arteries or veins are heavily clogged with cholesterol. According to research, omega-3 fatty acids may also help to increase good cholesterol, or high density lipoproteins (HDL).

Because of its good effects on the cardiovascular system, fish oil fatty acids can help protect the body from potential heart attacks and strokes. Strokes are caused when a plaque of fat layers on artery walls breaks away and travels through the blood stream. This ball of plaque, referred to as an embolus, can clog arteries. Fish oil can help the body break up an embolus before it can cause problems.

Another one of the famous fish oil health benefits is how it also help support brain health. Adults might have a better memory, faster recall, better reasoning, and easier focus on the job at hand if they take fish oil. Omega-3 fatty acids have also been shown to decrease the incidence of depression and psychosis in some people, which was demonstrated at the University of Sheffield, where researchers found that one of the major fish oil health benefits was how it could ease the symptoms of some mental health problems.

Some childhood disorders, such as attention deficiency hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, and attention deficit disorder, or ADD, have also been shown to benefit from the use of fish oil. Children suffering from obsessive compulsive disorders and dyslexia have also been reported to get better at basic skills due in part to the use of fish oil with DHA and EPA.

Fish oils are also anticoagulants, and can keep blood from clotting prematurely. Fish oils have also been found to protect the nervous system and improve the function of the immune system. Anecdotal evidence has also shown the effectiveness of using fish oil in reducing the risk of blindness brought by old age, osteoporosis, and even type II diabetes.

Before buying any fish oils, however, make sure that you read the product labels. Fish oil that has not been processed well may contain poisonous metals such as mercury, additives to preserve the fish oil, or lower levels of DHA due to extensive, but crude processing. Not all fish oils are bottled and stored well, so make sure that you buy a fresh bottle. Buy fish oil only from reputable merchants, and avoid looking for "bargains" by buying fish oil from unreliable sources.

Lastly, be updated on the latest research surrounding the use of fish oil for human health. There are many more studies still ongoing on how the ingredients present in fish oil can help us have better immune, cardiovascular, and nervous systems. As research continues, you need to learn more about fish oil health benefits that come from top quality, well-processed fish oil supplements.

Monica Nelson writes about health topics, about womens health and fitness, and about topics such as omega-3 fish oil and what you should know about pharmaceutical grade fish oil. These health articles are provided as a helpful news service and are not to be considered medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about health issues.

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