The advantages of Fish Oil for a Healthy Life

The advantages of Fish Oil for  a Healthy Life

 

 

 

 

 

When the words oil and fat are mentioned, health-conscious individuals tend to run for cover. What they fail to realize is that there are good and bad fats. Complete avoidance of the intake of oils and fats would be harmful-rather than beneficial-to their health.

 

The Truth About Fish Oil

Essential fatty acids must always be part of our daily diet—without them, we take one step closer to our deaths. Essential fatty acids are divided into two families: omega-6 EFAs and omega-3 EFAS.

 

Although only very slight differences distinguish the two groups of essential fatty acids from each other, studies have revealed that too much intake of omega-6 EFAs can lead to inflammation, blood clotting, and tumor growth. The good news, however, is that the opposite is true for omega-3 EFAs. Omega-6 EFAs can be found in vegetable oils, while omega-3 EFAs can be found in fish oils and other foods.

 

Omega-6 vs. Omega-3

Physicians and scientists agree that the cause behind increasing cases of heart disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), obesity, diabetes, premature aging, and certain kinds of cancer is none other than an imbalanced intake of omega-3 and omega-6 EFAs.

 

As mentioned earlier, omega-6 EFAs can be found in vegetable oils. This includes but is not limited to corn oil and soy oil, both of which contain high amounts of linoleic acid. Omega-3 EFAs, on the other hand, can be found in marine plankton, walnut, and flaxseed oils. It should be important to take note that fatty fish and fish oils contain eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), fatty acids observed to provide many benefits to the human body. In the early 1970s, a study on Greenland Eskimos revealed that one of the major reasons why they rarely have heart disease is because of their high-fat diet (mainly composed of fish).

 

The two essential fatty acids, EPA and DHA, are also helpful in preventing atherosclerosis, heart attacks, depression, and various forms of cancer. Fish oil-supplemented foods have also proven to be useful in treating illnesses like rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, Raynaud's disease, and ulcerative colitis.

 

Other Benefits of Fish Oil

There are a lot more illnesses and situations in which the intake of fish oil has proven to be significantly beneficial.

 

Making the Heart Healthier

The heart is inarguably one of the most important parts of our body, and having an unhealthy heart means having to suffer from a rather limited lifespan. Naturally, it's in our best interests to keep our hearts happy and healthy, and one way of doing that is by eating food that contains fish oil.

 

In Athens, Greece, for instance, a study was conducted to show whether there was a direct relationship between a high fish diet and inflammation of the blood vessels. The results revealed that those who ate more fish than the others had lower levels of C-reactive protein and interleukin-6, factors that are commonly used to measure the likelihood of blood vessel inflammation. These benefits remained even when the various risks associated with a high fish diet were considered.

 

Fish Lose Weight

A study in Perth, Australia, revealed that fish consumption can be used to fight hypertension and obesity. Researchers from the University of Western Australia (UWA) have discovered that a weight-loss diet that includes a regular amount of fish consumption can be quite effective in reducing blood pressure and improving glucose tolerance.

 

Fish Oil to Combat Asthma

People suffering from respiratory problems like asthma tend to be perceived as unfit and unhealthy. They should now be pleased to learn that certain studies have revealed the benefits of fish oil for asthma-burdened individuals. Statistics show that approximately 20 to 25% of children today suffer one form of asthma or another At a certain point, in their lives. And certain evidence reveals a regular diet food with high linoleic acid content as the reason behind it.

 

Researchers of UW (University of Wyoming) conducted a study by subjecting numerous children to a high-fish diet while others continued with their regular diet. Results revealed that the participants who ate more fish were less prone to asthma attacks and could breathe more easily as well.

 

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