You probably know of at least one person that touts the value of fish oil and now you’re wondering if it could be of benefit to you as well.
The answer is a resounding “Yes!” The benefits of fish oil are many, and there are very few people who cannot gain something from taking it. Throughout the following paragraphs, we will discuss what fish oil is, what’s in it and what it can do for you.
What is Fish Oil and What’s In It?
Fish oil is exactly what the name implies; oil extracted from fish. There are varying degrees in the quality of fish oils and the very best ones are the ones that are extracted from oily fish such as tuna, mackerel, trout, salmon, herring and sardines.
The reason that these are the best sources is because the oil from these types of fish contain larger amounts of the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Omega-3s have been scientifically proven to reduce and possibly even prevent a number of diseases, ailments and illnesses.
How Do I Get Omega-3s?
The omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil have been proven to help prevent heart disease and promote a healthy immune system, brain, joints, kidneys and more. Because omega-3s are necessary to the body, but cannot be produced internally, you must either get enough of it via food sources or supplementation, or a combination of the two.
Eating a healthy diet low in saturated fats is also important because these fats break down the omega 3 fatty acids and decrease or eliminate their benefits.
Your brain is known to use large amounts of the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil. People with Alzheimer’s disease have been shown to have buildups of toxic plaque in their brains. DHA increases the production of a protein called LR11 in your brain and this protein prevents the plaque from building.
Omega 3s also play a part in making sure that two chemicals in your brain, serotonin and dopamine, function as they are supposed to. Improper function of these two chemicals have been absolutely linked to mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
There have also been links to improved cognitive functioning in people that consumed enough fish oil on a regular basis.
Fish Oil as an Anti-Inflammatory
Because fish oil has known anti-inflammatory properties, it is helpful in the reducing the pain, swelling and stiffness caused by arthritis and lupus. Because inflammation has also been linked to severe diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer and auto-immune diseases, fish oil has also been shown to aid in the prevention of these diseases.
The Benefits of Fish Oil for Anti-Aging
Omega-3 fatty acids have been proven to increase the lifespan of cells by protecting the chromosomes. As cells die, they become shorter and shorter until they can’t shrink any more and the DNA strands become damaged.
This causes aging. By protecting the chromosomes, omega-3s slow the aging process. This means younger looking skin, hair and fingernails on the outside and younger everything else on the inside. Another age-related illness that omega-3s help prevent is macular degeneration because it helps support healthy circulation and blood vessel strength.
Now that you know the benefits of fish oil, you can decide for yourself if taking it is for you. If you are pregnant, you should be careful about what fish you consume or what supplement you take because though omega-3s have amazing benefits for a developing fetus, many fish contain mercury which has been linked to birth defects.
This doesn’t mean you can’t take it; just that you have to be careful about which products you use. For everybody else, there really is nothing to lose, but everything to gain. Our recommended fish oil is perfectly safe and free of mercury.
Fish Oil Fatty Acids
Our Highest Quality, Mercury Free Fish Oil