Missa's Fit Facts

If you haven’t heard of the benefits of Omega-3 fish oils yet, you’re probably living in a cave. If you’re not taking Omega-3 fish oils on a daily basis yet, you might want to rethink that course of action. Fish oil, made from the tissue of oily fish, such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, herring, lake trout and sardines, contains important Omega-3 fatty acids , most notably eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and decosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These Omega-3 fatty acids are believed to have a myriad of health benefits.

The human body cannot make Omega-3 fatty acids, and therefore is dependent on outside sources  for the essential fatty acids. In all circumstances where these fatty acids are believed to be medically beneficial, we must get it through either food or through a fish oil supplement.

Just  A Few Related Conditions and Benefits

- Inflammation. Omega 3 fatty acids, particularly EPA, have a very positive effect on your inflammatory response. Heart disease, cancer, autoimmune diseases, psoriasis, and Alzheimer’s, for example, are characterized by increased levels of pro-inflammatory markers. Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil reduce inflammation by preventing production of pro-inflammatory signaling molecules.

- Cardiovascular Health. The intake of the recommended amount of DHA and EPA has been shown to have many heart healthy benefits. Consumption of dietary fish or fish oil supplements can lower triglycerides and increase “good” cholesterol, while slightly thinning the blood. All of these factors help reduce the risk of heart attack. Fish oil can also slow the hardening of arteries and slightly lower blood pressure.

- Weight loss. Research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that daily doses of oil containing omega-3 fatty acids, combined with moderate exercise like walking for 45 minutes, can result in significant weight loss. The effect of fish oil may also be due to some kind of impact on appetite control and calorie intake. There is research to show a link between fish oil and leptin sensitivity, so the idea that fish oil can speed up weight loss via improved appetite control and a subsequent reduction in calorie intake is a plausible one.

- Arthritis. Fish oil is also effective in reducing the symptoms and pain of arthritis. Morning stiffness and joint tenderness  was shown to decrease with regular intake of fish oil supplements. Fish oil does not act as a painkiller, however, and it takes regular use before a difference is noticed.  If one takes fish oils regularly, the long term outcome will prove to be worth it in terms of reducing arthritic pain.

- Anti-aging. Omega-3 fatty acids slow the rate at which protective caps on the end of chromosomes shorten, thus increasing the lifespan of cells.

- Immunity. It is believed that regular consumption of fish oil aids in increasing your immunity thereby enabling you to resist incidence of common diseases such as cold, cough and flu.

- Eye Disorders: It is well known that fish oil is good for its ability to improve vision. It also helps in avoiding age related macular degeneration.

- Skin Care. Fish oil helps in improving the condition of poor and dry skin by making it shinny and glowing. It is useful in treating various skin problems such as eczema, psoriasis, itching, redness of skin, skin lesions, and rashes. Fish oil is effective for acne as well.

- Reduction of Breast, Colon and Prostate Cancer. Omega-3 fish oil has been shown to help prevent three of the most common forms of cancer - breast, colon and prostate. Science tells us that Omega-3s accomplish this in three ways. They stop the alteration from a normal healthy cell to a cancerous mass, inhibiting unwanted cellular growth and causing apoptosis, or cellular death, of cancer cells.

- Better Brain Function and Higher Intelligence. Pregnant and nursing mothers can have a great impact on the intelligence and happiness of their babies by supplementing with fish oil. For adults, omega 3 improves memory, recall, reasoning and focus.

Not only is fish oil beneficial to physical health, fish oil is also beneficial to mental health.

- Depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Omega-3 fatty acids help maintain the proper functioning of certain neurotransmitter signaling systems in the brain. Both dopamine and serotonin levels, and the signaling system of each, are believed to contribute to the occurrence of depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Therefore, Omega-3 fatty acids may help to regulate those hormones and lessen the symptoms of these severe mental illnesses. Combined with typical drug therapy, fish oil high in Omega-3 fatty acids has been shown to help regulate the moods of those suffering from these three illnesses.

Due to the presence of Omega 3 fatty acids, fish oil is good for relieving depression, sadness, anxiety, restlessness, mental fatigue, stress, decreased sexual desire, suicidal tendencies and other nervous disorders.

This is just a small list of benefits that Omega-3 fatty acids can provide. To not supplement your current diet with them would be a huge disservice to your general health and well being. So get to it!