What Does Fish Oil Do For Your Health?
Filed Under Anti-Inflammatory, Blood Pressure, DHA and EPA, Fish Oil Supplements, Heart Disease, Main Content, Omega 3 Fatty Acids | Leave a Comment
What does fish oil do? That might seem like a simple question, but the truth is that we really don’t know everything that there is to know about it, yet. Researchers are still looking at “how” it works. But, there are some questions that we can answer.
There are numerous benefits associated with increasing your intake of omega3 fatty acids, which is what you find in fatty fish. It is also beneficial to reduce your intake of omega6 fatty acids and saturated fats, which are found in cooking oils, butter, dairy products, meats and egg yolks.
The best diets do provide some omega6 fatty acids, particularly linolenic acid, because it is essential to human health. It is simply that most people’s diets are too high in omega6 and too low in omega three. Saturated and trans-fatty acids are not essential to the human diet. So, you could leave those out entirely, if you wanted.
Benefits have been seen in various parts of the body. So, here’s a look at some of those.
What does fish oil do for the heart and circulatory system?
It acts as an anti-coagulant, preventing the formation of clots. It has been shown to increase HDL (good) cholesterol levels, which in turn may help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, because HDL particles pick up the smaller LDL particles and carry them back to the liver for reprocessing.
Omega-3 fatty acids have a beneficial effect on blood pressure and have some degree of anti-inflammatory activity. A recent study showed that some fish oils have more anti-inflammatory activity than others. Natural hoki oils seem to be at the top of the list. Inflammation plays a role in atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries.
What does fish oil do for the brain and nervous system?
The brain is primarily composed of fatty acids. The most abundant fatty acid in the brain is an omega 3 called DHA. DHA is not found in vegetable oils or plants. It is found in some kinds of marine algae. Strict vegans should choose a marine algae supplement rather than flax seed. Research has proven that flax seed supplements do not increase circulating levels of DHA.
Low blood levels of DHA are associated with depression and anxiety. Lack of these fatty acids, or an imbalance in the diet, may play a role in Alzheimer’s and other degenerative diseases. The nerves are surrounded by a sheath or membrane. 60% of that membrane is DHA.
What does fish oil do for the joints, skin, vision and digestive system?
Because of its anti-inflammatory activity, it is beneficial for arthritis, psoriasis, eczema, acne and inflammatory bowel diseases. The retina, a part of the eye that gathers light and transmits signals to the brain, is composed primarily of DHA.
Supplementation may be beneficial for preventing cataracts and age-related muscular degeneration. It is well known that the supplements prevent and relieve constipation.
What does fish oil do for the immune system?
That’s a new field of study. It seems that it may help prevent allergies and asthma. The benefit to the heart is most well known. Just remember, when you are buying supplements that all of them are not the same. Choose wisely.
Valerie Rosenbaum says 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: http://www.TakingFishOil.com
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The Best Fish Oil Supplements – What to Look For
Filed Under Anti-Inflammatory, Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, DHA and EPA, Fish Oil Supplements, Heart Disease, Main Content, Omega 3 Fatty Acids | 1 Comment
Identifying the best fish oil supplements does not need to be difficult. Some manufacturers provide the necessary information. It is all included in the Certificate of Analysis.
The Certificate of Analysis or COA is an evaluation conducted by an independent laboratory to check for contaminants, oxidation and omega3 content. If all manufacturers posted the result of that analysis on their websites, it would be easy to compare. But, most manufacturers fear what you would learn.
Mercury, dioxins and PCBs are some of the things that they don’t want you to know about. Oxidized or rancid oils are another.
Oxidation or spoilage begins as soon as the fish are pulled out of the water. If they are not properly stored or if they are left on the dock to rot in the sun, the level of oxidation becomes extremely high. Oxidation is responsible for those fishy tasting burps that you get. The best fish oil supplements don’t cause them. The manufacturer guarantees it.
Some manufacturers believe that a little bit of heavy metals like mercury and cancer-causing dioxins won’t hurt you. But, in the purest oils, there are no detectable levels of those contaminants. The COA proves it.
When it comes to the omega3 content, the COA will show how much total omega3s are present in each capsule, as well as individual amounts of DHA, EPA and DPA. DHA is essential for the growth and functional development of the human brain. It is required for maintenance of normal brain function in adults. Its absence in the diet leads to learning deficits and depression.
DHA deficiencies are also associated with Attention Deficit Disorder, cystic fibrosis, aggressive behavior, cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s. It has a positive effect on high blood pressure, arthritis, type II diabetes and some types of cancer. So, obviously, the best fish oil supplements contain large amounts of DHA.
EPA has proven benefits in heart disease and inflammatory disorders. DPA is believed to contribute to overall cardiovascular health. Research is currently ongoing concerning these other two essential fatty acids. But, the benefits of DHA have been well understood for quite some time.
The best fish oil supplements provide at least 280mg of DHA per capsule, at least 120mg of EPA and at least 50mg of DPA. The total omega 3 content in 1000mg of oil is 500mg. Some manufacturers do not list the omega 3 content and most do not break it down into individual omega3s. Of those that do, only a few have an independent COA to back up their statements.
The benefits to your health will be numerous if you select an excellent supplement. One of the first things that you should notice is an improved ability to concentrate. If you’ve been feeling a little depressed, you should notice an improvement in your mood. If your joints feel a little achy, you should notice greater flexibility.
Those are just some of the things that people have noticed when they buy and take the best fish oil supplements. Now, you know how to find yours.
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
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
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
What Good is Lutein?
Filed Under Anti Aging Supplement, Anti Aging Vitamin, Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant, Enteric Coating, Fish Oil Supplements, Heart Disease, Lutein, Main Content, Natural Supplements, Nutritional Supplements, Omega 3 Fatty Acids, Total Balance Supplements, Zeaxanthin | Leave a Comment
If you’re wondering; what is lutein used for, you’ve come to the right place. Until recently, its most common use was as a natural coloring. It would be added to foods to impart colors ranging form yellow to orange-red, depending on the amount that was added. It imparts these colors, because it absorbs blue light.
It was also used to fortify chicken feed. A chicken’s skin is not naturally yellow, unless it eats lutein-fortified feed. A fortified diet, of this kind, also results in eggs that have a darker yellow, nearly orange, yolk. The lutein that is present in eggs is a result of chicken’s eating fortified feed. Chickens do not naturally produce it. It is produced primarily by plants.
As long as fruits and vegetables are consumed, it is a nutrient included in the human diet. It is just one of the reasons that eating fruits and vegetables (other than white potatoes) is so important.
If you are wondering; what is lutein doing in nutritional supplements, the answer has mostly to do with the eyes. Inside of the eye is the retina. Light receptors called rods and cones are found in the retina. These are nerve cells responsible for transmitting signals to the brain and receiving signals from it.
Each of the rods and cones contains a membrane composed of protein and retinal or Vitamin A. Vitamin A deficiencies can cause blindness, but a more common problem, night blindness, is due to a lack of it in the diet.
Another component of the retina is the omega3 fatty acid called DHA. It is the most abundant fatty acid found in the retina, as it is in all nerve and brain cells.
Within the retina is found the macula, a spot in the back of the eye, responsible for central vision. A high concentration of lutein, along with zeaxanthin, is found in the macula. If you were wondering what is lutein, because you have seen it in a health supplement, zeaxanthin was probably another ingredient. Zeaxanthin is the dominant pigment in the central macula. Lutein dominates in the rest of the macula.
Both are members of the carotenoid family of pigments. Beta-carotene and lycopene are also carotenoids. Beta-carotene is converted within the body to vitamin A.
At one time it was believed that only beta-carotene was important to healthy vision. Now, it appears that the other carotenoids are just as important. If you ate a salad containing spinach, broccoli, romaine lettuce, carrots and tomatoes, you would get a mixture of all of the carotenoids. If you took a health supplement, you might only get beta-carotene. You would have to read the label to be sure.
You could be wondering what is lutein because your eye doctor suggested it as a dietary supplement. You may be at risk of macula degeneration, an age related eye disease that can result in partial or total blindness. It is believed that supplements containing a variety of carotenoids, along with other vitamins and minerals may reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration. That covers what is lutein. Maybe you should learn about the other nutrients that are important to good vision, for life.
Valerie Rosenbaum has spent years researching the claims of anti aging supplement products and skin care products to find out which ingredients and products are most effective at slowing or even reversing the aging process. If you are interested in restoring your youthful vigor and appearance then visit her website NaturalBalanceSupplements.com
