The Health Benefits of Fish Oil Explained
Fish oil is a proven food product for fighting disease and
maintaining general good health. Fish oil is obtained from
various species of fish such as mackerel, herring, sardines,
lake trout, etc. Fish oil is safe for consumption by all
age-groups; unlike dietary fish, which may be contaminated by
metals such as mercury.
Fish oil is an important source of Omega 3 fatty acids;
eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The
Omega 3 found in fish oil is more beneficial than other forms of
Omega 3 that are found in walnuts, flaxseeds, etc.
Omega 3 fatty acids found in fish oil have numerous clinically
proven health benefits. Fish oil has long been considered as
brain food and its regular consumption enhances memory and
develops concentration. Studies carried out in different
countries such as the U.K and Australia have shown the positive
effects of fish oil on the learning skills of toddlers. Children
affected by ADD/ADHD and dyslexia benefit from fish oil, their
learning, grasping, and reading skills improve appreciably. In
fact, if expecting mothers partake of fish oil, the children
born have an edge over their compatriots in kindergarten. DHA in
fish oil boosts visual acuity in children.
Fish oil is also considered to be beneficial in treating and
preventing various forms of cancer. Studies with volunteer
groups show that those who consumed fish oil were less
susceptible to sunburn and the harmful effects of UV rays. This
could have implications in the prevention of skin cancer.
Research also shows that the combination of propofil, which is
an anesthetic, with fish oil can lead to the destruction of
cancer cells. This opens up the possibility of developing either
an ointment or a patch for treating tumors. Fish oil has also
been found to be useful in the treatment of the Human Papilloma
Virus, which is a common STD that leads to cervical cancer in
women.
Fish oil has always been considered good for the eyes; recent
studies have shown that the Omega 3 fatty acids found in fish
oil offer protection against age-related macular degeneration,
which is one of the foremost causes of age-related blindness,
and dry-eye syndrome in which the lachrymal glands do not
function properly and the cornea can get scarred.
A recent study conducted in Denmark has found that fish oil
consumption by diabetics lowered the content of triacylglycerol,
(TAG) in the blood. TAG is a fatty substance linked to heart
disease. Obese individuals who suffer from hypertension, insulin
resistance, and high blood triglycerides can lose weight more
effectively if they follow a regimen of exercise combined with
regular intake of fish oil. This is because the Omega 3 fatty
acids enhance the fuel-burning capacities of the cells. A study
conducted in Japan found that Statins, which is drug used to
lower cholesterol levels, was more useful when used in
conjunction with fish oil.
Fish oil serves as a remedy for ulcerative colitis, which is an
ailment of the digestive tract, characterized inflammatory
pseudopolyps. Fish oil taken in conjunction with antioxidants
and fiber-rich foods, helps control this ailment.