It makes a lot of sense to keep abreast of the latest scientific studies that will guide you in the right direction to maintain excellent health. Omega-3 fish oil is all about prevention; don’t wait to become ill, take charge of your health and consider all the benefits.
Omega-3 Fish Oil
Omega-3 fish oil is a polyunsaturated fatty acid of the long-chain variety that comes from cold water fish like salmon, sardines, and trout. The oil contains the powerful eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) that benefits general health and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) that acts as brain food. If you are concerned about mercury and other pollutants in the fish you eat and limit your consumption no more than two servings per week, it makes sense to also take omega-3 in supplemental form.
Omega-3 and the Heart
This wonder oil supports hearth health, and in 2000 the FDA permitted the positive association to be listed on omega-3 supplement labels. A study of healthy men appearing in the April 11, 2002 edition of The New England Journal of Medicine found a strong connection between omega-3 supplements and a reduced risk of sudden death.
Anti-Dementia Benefit
It is known by scientists that those with Alzheimer’s Disease have less DHA and more inflammation in their brains. A study in the April 2007 issue of the Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that consuming fish oil is associated with less mental decline. And a December 28, 2007 article appearing in the online Washington Post reported on research that has linked DHA to possible Alzheimer’s prevention.
Improve Your Mood
In March 2007 researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical School found that consumption of fish oil, specifically DHA, improved mood and even helped with minor depression symptoms. The study found that the more DHA consumed actually increased gray matter in three areas of the brain that have to do with mood. These gray-matter brain-areas are usually deficient in those who are depressed.
Anti-inflammatory Benefit
Recent research suggests that consumption of omega-3 fish oil may help people with many more chronic diseases like asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, diabetes, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. How could fish oil be beneficial for so many chronic illnesses? Scientists attribute the good results to the lowering of chronic inflammation that seems to be a part of these diseases.
How Much to Take?
Typically physicians recommend one to two grams of fish oil capsules per day for general wellness. The capsules found in the local store, advertised as one gram omega-3 (1 gram=1000mg) actually contain only about 300 mg combined EPA and DHA amounts. So have a discussion with your physician about what combined amount he/she recommends.
More Potent Pharmaceutical-Grade Capsules
Pharmaceutical-grade fish oil contains about double the combined EPA and DHA amounts that are in regular fish oil capsules. They are generally made under stricter conditions to keep out contaminants. Researcher Barry Sears, Ph.D., of the Zone series of books, suggests that a combined 600 mg of EPA and DHA that is in a one-gram pharmaceutical-gradecapsule, taken four times per day (only the pharm-grade) is a maintenance value that will keep you in excellent general health. He suggests even more capsules for therapeutic enhancement. Natural health advocates advise that you educate yourself and make the how-much-to-take decision in consultation with your physician.
This article is for education purposes only.
Reference
Sears, Barry, Ph.D., The Omega Rx Zone, Harper Collins Publishers, 2002.
Arlene Lengyel - Arlene is a graduate of Clayton College of Natural Health with a Doctor of Naturopathy degree. Naturopathy promotes an all-inclusive, ...
