Fish Oil Benefits Your Entire Body
By: DanielFittman Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 Time: 1:53 AM
There are so many fish oil benefits, it might make more sense to discuss what it does not do, rather than what it does. Although fish oil may seem nothing short of miraculous, this is for good reason. Fish oil gives your body what it needs for proper functioning.
The fish oil that your body needs must be from cold deep-water fish such as cod, salmon, mackerel and herring. The deeper the water, the better, as the fish should contain less mercury. Mercury levels are always a concern with fish consumption.
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.
Among the reasons your body needs fish oil fatty acids is for good cardiovascular health. Studies show that these fatty acids both increase good cholesterol levels and decrease the bad. They help keep plaques from forming in the arteries which can then cause strokes and heart attacks. Omega 3s have also been found to lower blood pressure.
Mental health is also impacted by Omega 3 acids from fish oil. These acids affect both cognitive and behavioral aspects of the brain. Furthermore, a correlation is being seen between Omega 3 deficiencies and various types of illnesses and diseases of the brain such as Alzheimers, Parkinsons and Schizophrenia. Supplementation with fish oil is also being noted as showing improvements in ADD and ADHD.
The Omega 3s found in fish oil are also essential in development of both the brain and the nervous system. Pregnant women should be sure that they are getting enough of these fatty acids for good fetal development. There are some studies that have shown that premature deliveries are less likely when the mother is 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.
There are studies that have found fish oil to be a possible aid for cancer prevention, especially in the colon, prostrate and breast. The fatty acids help to keep normal cells from becoming cancerous, they kill off cancer cells and stop abnormal cell growth.
One more benefit of fish oil is that it can promote the production of serotonin which, to put it simply, is the hormone that makes us feel good emotionally. It may also help to reduce levels of hormones that increase stress. So, between the two functions, the result is feeling calmer, less stressed and happier. All of which benefit the immune system as well.
These are not even all of the fish oil benefits that could be listed. Now that you are ready to add fish oil to your diet, be sure to look for a high quality supplement. You will want to find one that contains only cold water fish oil and no preservatives or fillers.
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