Fish Oil Benefits Every Aspect Of Your Health
Once you start talking about fish oil benefits, it seems like there is a benefit for every system in your body. While it may seem nothing short of miraculous, there is good reason for this. Fish oil provides something without which your body cannot perform as it should.
Not all fish can provide the oil that you are looking for in your diet or supplement. The fish must be from oily and from deep cold waters. Fish in this category include cod, mackerel, salmon and herring. Fish from deeper waters are generally better as they should contain less, if any, mercury.
The substances we need from these fish are Omega 3 fatty acids. Our bodies cannot synthesize what we need, so we need to get these from either our diets or by taking a supplement. And, for most of us, it is difficult to get sufficient stores from diet alone.
The fatty acids from fish oil are essential for proper cardiovascular and mental health. Research has shown that they help to remove bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol in the body. They help to keep the arteries clean and without plaques which can lead to heart attacks and strokes. They also aid in lowering of blood pressure.
Omega 3 acids are essential for good brain health as well. They have a direct impact on the cognitive and behavioral functioning of the brain. A deficiency in these acids has been linked to several different disorders including mental illnesses and diseases such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons. Fish oil supplements are proving to have a positive effect on sufferers, including children, of ADD and ADHD.
Fish oil fatty acids play an important role in brain and nervous system development. Therefore, it is an important supplement for pregnant women to aid in proper development of the fetus. There are also studies showing that premature deliveries are less common when supplementing with fish oil.
The fatty acids in fish oil have a role in the inflammatory response of the body. They can be very helpful in reducing inflammation and, therefore, pain in all inflammatory conditions in the body including arthritis, lupus, inflammatory bowel disease and prostatitis. The anti-inflammatory quality of the oil can actually help reduce wrinkles as well. This, plus encouraging increased production of collagen can result in younger looking skin.
Cancer prevention has also been seen to improve with fish oil, in particular as it affects the prostrate, colon and breast. The fatty acids are able to do this by keeping normal cells from mutating, killing cancerous cells and inhibiting abnormal cell growth.
Another fish oil benefit, but hardly the last, is promotion of serotonin production and inhibition of stress producing hormones. Serotonin is a hormone that basically makes us feel good from an emotional standpoint. Between these two functions, we feel happier and less stressed and, as a result, our immune system is stronger as well.
The list actually does go on. Hard as it may be to believe, there are even more fish oil benefits than these. If you are looking for a supplement, just be sure to look for a good quality one that is 100% deep-sea fish oil with no fillers or preservatives.
Tags: Alternative Health