How Much Fish Oil Should I Take?
Filed Under Anti-Inflammatory, Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, DHA and EPA, Fish Oil Supplements, Heart Disease, Main Content, Omega 3 Fatty Acids | Leave a Comment
If you asked, “how much fish oil should I take?” You might get a number of different answers. There is no well established daily dosage, although for adults the minimum daily requirement for omega3 fatty acids is currently set at 1100mg. In order to get that, the amount of fish oil that you should take depends on the brand and the omega3 content.
Many people think that 1000mg of fish oil provides 1000mg of omega3 fatty acids. That is not the case. The oils are a blend of polyunsaturated fatty acids that include omega-3, 6 and 9.
Most people get plenty of omega6 in their diets, because it is found in cooking oils. The value of omega9s in the diet has not been established. It is known that an imbalance of omega6 to omega3 causes a variety of health problems.
In the better supplements, at least 50% of the fat in the capsule is omega3. So, in order to get close to the minimum daily requirement, you would need to take two gel caps. Below, you will see the answers to a few other questions.
How much fish oil should I take if I have arthritis?
Arthritis is an inflammatory condition. Inflammation is involved in other health problems and plays a role in aging. A number of different studies have found that omega3 supplementation provides benefit for people that suffer from rheumatoid and osteoarthritis.
The amount used in the studies varied from 1000-3000mg per day given over the course of 3-4 months. A dose of 2000mg per day is generally recognized as safe and well-tolerated. You would need to check with your doctor about taking more. If diarrhea or nausea occurs, you should reduce the daily dose.
How much fish oil should I take if I have high cholesterol?
In addition to a healthy diet and regular exercise, omega3s can help lower LDL cholesterol by increasing HDL. LDL particles are small. They get stuck on the interior of the arterial walls. HDL particles are larger. They pick up the LDL and carry them back to the liver. Two gel caps per day, should be sufficient for an adult.
How much fish oil should I take if I suffer from depression or anxiety?
When it comes to depression, anxiety and other conditions that involve the brain, it is the DHA content that is most important. DHA is a specific omega3 fatty acid. The amount that is in a supplement could be very low.
Studies that showed benefit in depression used 500mg of DHA per day. You would need to check the label of the product that you intend to buy. The better supplements provide at least 250mg of DHA per capsule. So, once again, only 2 gel caps per day would be necessary.
How much fish oil should I take to protect the health of my heart?
Protecting the long-term health of your heart is the biggest benefit of an omega3 supplement. We do not know exactly how much is needed to achieve that benefit. Healthy diet and exercise are once again, essential. Most supplement manufacturers recommend 2 gel caps per day.
Valerie Rosenbaum knows that taking omega 3 fish oil supplements is the easiest and most effective way to improve your health. Visit her site now to discover the pure, fish oil product she uses and recommends after extensive research: http://www.TakingFishOil.com
Fish Oil and Cholesterol – Omega 3′s Help Increase HDL Levels!
Filed Under Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant, Blood Pressure, Cancer, Cholesterol, Fish Oil Supplements, Main Content, Natural Supplements, Omega 3 Fatty Acids | Leave a Comment
Numerous scientific studies have been conducted concerning fish oil and cholesterol. These have consisted of both animal and human studies. Researchers measured a 4% average increase in HDL cholesterol levels, in one of the most recent studies.
As you may or may not be aware, HDL particles are good. Years ago, total cholesterol was believed to be a primary risk factor for heart disease. Now, it is known that LDL particles are the problem.
LDL particles are smaller than HDL. They stick to the arterial walls, becoming oxidized and hardened. This causes inflammation of the arteries, which further narrows them. Eventually, a hardened clump can break away, forming a clot that can cause a heart attack or a stroke. If that does not occur, the accumulation can eventually reach a point where blood flow is completely blocked. That causes a heart attack, too.
Doctors began to look at the connection between fish oil and cholesterol, because of observational studies. The Western diet has now spread to most areas of the world, but at one time it was possible to observe the traditional diets of isolated natives.
The traditional Eskimo diet was very high in fat, but the incidence of heart disease was very low and very few people were overweight. Those observations were made years ago, but it made researchers curious about the difference between good dietary fats and bad ones.
Today, we know that saturated and trans-fatty acids are bad for our health. They play no role in the body and are unnecessary in the diet. Omega6s and omega3s, however, are essential to the diet. They perform a variety of roles in the human body. They also balance each other out.
So, researchers began to look at fish oil and cholesterol, because the Eskimo diet was rich in fatty fish like salmon and because the omega3 to omega6 ratio is unlike that found in any other type of fat. In most oils and fats, there are far more omega6s than omega3s. In corn oil, for example, there are 40 times more omega6s than omega3s. The ratio is 40:1. Canola oil has the best ratio of 1:1.
Fish oil contains far more omega3s than omega6s. The ratios vary, depending on the type of fish that is used and the way that the supplement is processed, but in the better oils, 4% or less is omega6, while 50% or more is omega3. That means that the ratio looks like this 4:50. Other oils are good source of omega3s, but there is nothing like that which comes from fatty fishes.
The connection between fish oil and cholesterol is understandable, particularly in the typical Western diet. It isn’t a miracle drug. We still need to watch what we eat and exercise regularly, but it is one of the best supplements that we can take for our health.
Just be sure that the supplement you choose is of the highest purity and provides at least 500mg of omega3 fatty acids per capsule. If the news spreads about fish oil and cholesterol reduction, we could see an end to hazardous statin drugs. One can always hope.
Valerie Rosenbaum knows that taking omega 3 fish oil supplements is the easiest and most effective way to improve your health. Visit her site now to discover the pure, fish oil product she uses and recommends after extensive research: http://www.TakingFishOil.com
Benefits of Fish Oil Are Paramount!
Filed Under Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant, Cancer, Cholesterol, Fish Oil Supplements, Main Content, Natural Supplements, Nutritional Supplements, Omega 3 Fatty Acids | Leave a Comment
Many of the benefits of fish oil are due to its anti-inflammatory activity. A recent study indicates that some fish oils have more anti-inflammatory activity than others and it is not directly related to the omega3 concentration. For many years, it was believed that the omega3 content was the only important nutrient in the oils. But, it seems that there is an “X-factor.”
Omega3 fatty acids are beneficial to our health in many ways and most people don’t get enough in their diet. People that stick with the typical Western diet (lots of beef, bread and potatoes) get way to much omega6s and little if any omega3s.
Without enough omega3s, our brains and eyes start to suffer. Our joints start to ache. We may suffer from inflammatory bowel disease or autoimmune diseases like psoriasis and lupus. So, many diseases are related to the diet. If the mainstream medical community really wanted to do something good for people’s health, they would tell them exactly what and what not to eat.
Omega6s contribute to inflammation. Omega3s modulate inflammation. So, for many years, the anti-inflammatory benefits of fish oil were attributed to the omega3 content. Now, we have a little evidence to indicate that there is something else in those oils.
Fishermen in the cold North Atlantic were the first ones that began to take a daily dose of fish oil to ease their aching joints. Modern-day studies have shown that there is benefit for reducing morning stiffness and pain after 2-3 months of supplementation.
The latest study compared the anti-inflammatory activity of natural, non-concentrated, non-distilled, oils to those of an ester concentrate. Then the anti-inflammatory activity of a combination type that was 50% concentrate and 50% natural oil was compared. The combination product had twice the anti-inflammatory activity of the concentrate, alone, even though the omega3 concentration was reduced. That’s why researchers say there is an X-factor, something that has yet to be identified.
It could simply be that the natural triglyceride contains all of the different omega3s (DHA, EPA, and DPA) in exactly the right combination. The reason for adding the concentrate is to insure that there is a large enough omega3 content to be beneficial for the health of the brain and eyes.
We may not know everything that there is to know about the inflammation fighting abilities, but we do know that an omega 3 called DHA is essential to the brain, both during childhood and throughout life. Low levels of DHA in the bloodstream are present in people that suffer from depression, anxiety and other neurological conditions. DHA is the most abundant fatty acid found in the retina of the eye. So, it is essential for good vision, throughout life.
Omega3s have antioxidant activity, as well. Researchers believe that they may help reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. That’s why omega3 content is important and that’s why the better manufacturers insure that each capsule will provide the full benifits of fish oil. They do that by combining a concentrate with that which comes from nature.
Valerie Rosenbaum knows that taking omega 3 fish oil supplements is the single most effective way to improve your health. Visit her site now to discover the pure, fish oil product she uses and recommends after extensive research: http://www.TakingFishOil.com
The Benefits of Fish Oil Supplements Are Manifest!
Filed Under Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant, Blood Pressure, Cancer, Cholesterol, Fish Oil Supplements, Heart Disease, Nutritional Supplements, Omega 3 Fatty Acids | Leave a Comment
There are benefits of fish oil supplements to all of the bodily systems and every cell of the body. Apparently, fish is a food that people were meant to eat, in relatively large quantities. During the low-fat diet craze, people shied away from salmon and other fatty fish, because the total grams of fat were too high.
Turns out, those were good fats. As it also turns out, the low fat diets did not always insure healthy cholesterol levels. Lowering the intake of simple carbohydrates like breads, rice and sugar, while increasing the intake of good omega3 fats seems to help more than anything else.
Fatty fish are rich in omega3 fats, which are long chain fatty acids. In the blood, they make up high density lipoproteins or HDL cholesterol. HDL performs all off the necessary cholesterol functions, such as transporting hormones and nutrients to other cells of the body. It also performs another role. When it encounters low density lipoproteins or LDL cholesterol, it picks it up and carries it back to the liver.
So, one of the benefits of fish oil supplements is to correct cholesterol imbalances, increasing HDL levels and decreasing LDL levels. That is beneficial to the health of the heart and the cardiovascular system. But, that’s not all.
Fish oil acts as a natural anti-coagulant. It prevents blood platelets from sticking together. This further reduces your risk of heart attack, as well as stroke. Supplementation could be beneficial for people with varicose veins. In people with type II diabetes, it could reduce the risk of the complications that often accompany the disease.
There are benefits of fish oil supplements for people that suffer from depression or anxiety. There has been noted improvement in kids that suffer from ADHD. These effects are due to a specific omega 3 called Docosahexaenoic Acid or DHA.
DHA levels in the bloodstream are known to be lower in people that suffer from depression. DHA is a major component of healthy brain and nerve cells. Of the total mass of the brain, about 40% is DHA. That explains why fish is called brain food and why people that don’t eat it suffer from a variety of ailments.
Other benefits of fish oil supplements are purely “cosmetic”. Research has shown that three months of supplementation improves the skin’s firmness by 10%. Researchers have suggested that it is beneficial for treating acne, psoriasis and eczema. Essential fatty acids are one of the components of the skin’s sebum. Excessive dryness may be relieved by increasing your omega3 intake.
Those are just some of the highlights. Suffice to say that it is good for your health. Just be sure to compare supplements carefully. Choose one that provides at least 500mg of omega3s per capsule. Only buy from companies that guarantee purity and freshness. If you don’t want fishy tasting burps, freshness is a must.
We can’t rely entirely on the benefits of fish oil supplements, of course. Healthy diet and regular exercise are still two of the keys to good health.
Valerie Rosenbaum knows that taking omega 3 fish oil supplements is the easiest and most effective way to improve your health. Visit her site now to discover the pure, fish oil product she uses and recommends after extensive research: http://www.TakingFishOil.com
Will Lutein Supplements Improve Vision? – Some Facts to Ponder
Filed Under Anti Aging Supplement, Anti Aging Vitamin, Cholesterol, Enteric Coating, Eyesight, Lutein, Main Content, Natural Supplements, Nutritional Supplements, Total Balance Supplements, Zeaxanthin | Leave a Comment
If you are wondering will lutein improve vision, you may have seen or heard a commercial for a health supplement. Here are the facts that were probably not included in that commercial.
Lutein and zeaxanthin are two powerful antioxidants that are highly concentrated in the macula, a small area of the retina responsible for central vision and good visual acuity. Some studies indicate that increased intake helps reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration or AMD. Some studies have concluded that high supplementation (10mg zeaxanthin, 50mg lutein) lowers the risk of cataracts and may actually improve visual acuity in AMD by 20% or more.
So, if you have AMD and you are wondering will lutein improve vision, the answer is “maybe”. It is difficult to be more certain than that, because so many other factors come into play. Every health problem that affects other parts of your body also affects visual acuity. Many health problems increase the risk of AMD. If you have high cholesterol or high blood pressure, then supplementation may not help. If you are obese or your diet is high in fat, it may not help.
Promising results from a single supplement when there are so many other factors to consider would be dishonest. Yet, some manufacturers focus only on the possible benefits and never mention the importance of a healthy diet and regular physical activity.
If you do not have AMD and you are wondering will lutein improve vision, some people have reported improved eyesight after improving their nutritional intake with a totally balanced supplement. A single nutrient is probably a waste of time. Here’s a question for you. How’s your diet?
If you run through the day grabbing fast foods or snacks from the vending machine and then come home at night to eat meat and potatoes, then a good multi-nutritional supplement that includes mixed carotenoids should help you see better. If you remember being told to eat your carrots, there was a good reason for that. We didn’t know much about different antioxidants, until recently, but we have known for many years that eating carrots supports eye health, because of the carotenoids they contain.
The problem today is that most of the supplements on the market contain synthetic vitamins. There is now way to be sure that the synthetics are beneficial at all. If the latest studies are any indication, they probably are not.
The answer to will lutein improve vision might depend upon where the manufacturer got it. Is the source natural or is it a petrochemical? Many people are surprised to learn that their vitamins contain petrochemicals. People that would never expose themselves to cigarette smoke are ingesting possible carcinogens, every day.
Not all petrochemicals are carcinogenic, at least as far as we know, but many of them are. They are all made in the same factory. It is safe to assume that petrochemicals are bad for our health.
Luckily, there are some reputable manufacturers that use only natural ingredients. Now, instead of asking will lutein improve vision, why not learn more about how to choose a good multi-nutritional supplement.
Valerie Rosenbaum has made it her mission to provide the public with information. The best nutritional supplements will include a full complement of over 70 bio-active ingredients to create a healthy balance of nutrients and antioxidants within the body. Learn what she uses and recommends at http://www.NaturalBalanceSupplements.com
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