Fish Oil

I have never liked fish. In fact, other then Tuna, mixed with mayo and chopped onions, I would say I am afraid of fish. I was once a lifeguard at a lake and every time I had to go in the water, I would move my arms and legs around like I was having a seizure just to keep the little fish in the lake away. I am in fact afraid of all sea life from Trout to Goldfish, so you can imagine my response when my doctor suggested taking fish oil. He gave me a copy of an article about the value of Omega 3 fish oil pills in reducing the risk of heart attacks. I was unimpressed and when evaluating taking the fish pills verses the heart attack, I chose the heart attack.
At my next visit, my doctor asked if I had tried the fish pills and when I wrinkled my nose and shook my head, he produced another article suggesting that there was a link between a reduction in cancer and the fish pills. Still I chose cancer.

He then suggested that flax seed oil was a worthy alternative to the fish pills and would provide me with the same omega 3 fatty acids, that he so desperately thought I needed. I had recently seen my mother munching on some flax seed chips, which pretty much closed the door on the flax seed option.

You can then imagine my joy when I recently read that there was little to suggest that Omega 3 fatty acids reduced the risk of any single type of cancer.

While it was true that the Eskimos of Greenland had a very low occurrence of coronary heart disease (I assume they ate a lot of fish), I was overjoyed to hear that high levels of mercury were discovered in fish. Swordfish, shark and mackerel had particularly large amounts of mercury, however fish sticks did not. Regardless I had found the evidence I needed and in future doctor visits whenever the issue was raised, I would invoke the findings from an ambiguous EPA study that supported my growing concern of getting mercury poisoning. In truth, I still don’t actually know why mercury is bad for you but as sited in the Fishing Regulations Booklet, if I need more information, I can always contact my local health department.

Robyn Segal is a free lance writer and Director of Marketing for a New England Health Care System.

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Pure Fish Oil

It is sometimes confusing when shopping for omega 3 supplements. Listed ingredients may be pure fish oil, fish oil concentrate, pharmaceutical grade fish oil or some variation of these. Doctors and scientists agree that the best omega 3 supplements will contain both DHA and EPA fatty acids, and DHA being especially important since the brain is comprised of 60% fats and approximately half of that is DHA.

The fish containing the highest amounts of omega 3 fatty acids are the fatty fish types (such as salmon, herring). Pure fish oil from these sources will provide the most complete omega 3s. Many supplement companies list the source of their fish oil, either on the package or on their website.

A fish oil concentrate simply means that most of the liquid has been removed from the product to reduce its volume. This is helpful because instead of taking several spoonfuls of oil (sometimes hard to swallow and distastful), you can take a single capsule or two. Products listing fish oil concentrate as its main ingredient should be just as effective as other products, but you may want to clarify the source of the fish and the omega 3 concentration.

Pharmaceutical grade fish oil is fish oil that has been filtered and purified to remove unwanted chemicals or by-products. So called pure fish oil should mean the same thing, but since some companies can use a verbal sleight of hand, it’s best to make sure you only buy from companies that unequivocally state their product is “pharmaceutcal grade fish oil”. Check the label or with the supplement company if you have a question about this.

The health benefits of fish and the omega 3 fatty acids that they contain are many. Omega 3s are essential to brain function and have been shown to improve memory and may be helpful in treating conditions like depression and attention deficit disorder. Research suggests that diets rich in omega 3s may help prevent heart disease and even show promise for certain types of cancer. Dr. Barry Sears, whose Zone Diet books focus on the importance of balanced insulin levels, recommends a pure fish oil supplement even if you eat fish three to five times per week.

The importance of both DHA and EPA omega 3 fatty acids is not completely understood, but in studies of the effects of omega 3s on conditions like depression, when only one or the other was used, little improvement was seen. When both were used, the results were apparent in as little as two weeks and even more improvement was noted after four to six weeks. Supplements of pure fish oil or fish oil concentrate may improve not only your health, but your mood as well.

Find out the best pure fish oil on the market, and the one we take ourselves at http://www.omega-3-fish-oil-guide.com

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Fish oil is a proven food product for fighting disease and maintaining general good health. Fish oil is obtained from various species of fish such as mackerel, herring, sardines, lake trout, etc. Fish oil is safe for consumption by all age-groups; unlike dietary fish, which may be contaminated by metals such as mercury.

Fish oil is an important source of Omega 3 fatty acids; eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The Omega 3 found in fish oil is more beneficial than other forms of Omega 3 that are found in walnuts, flaxseeds, etc.

Omega 3 fatty acids found in fish oil have numerous clinically proven health benefits. Fish oil has long been considered as brain food and its regular consumption enhances memory and develops concentration. Studies carried out in different countries such as the U.K and Australia have shown the positive effects of fish oil on the learning skills of toddlers. Children affected by ADD/ADHD and dyslexia benefit from fish oil, their learning, grasping, and reading skills improve appreciably. In fact, if expecting mothers partake of fish oil, the children born have an edge over their compatriots in kindergarten. DHA in fish oil boosts visual acuity in children.

Fish oil is also considered to be beneficial in treating and preventing various forms of cancer. Studies with volunteer groups show that those who consumed fish oil were less susceptible to sunburn and the harmful effects of UV rays. This could have implications in the prevention of skin cancer. Research also shows that the combination of propofil, which is an anesthetic, with fish oil can lead to the destruction of cancer cells. This opens up the possibility of developing either an ointment or a patch for treating tumors. Fish oil has also been found to be useful in the treatment of the Human Papilloma Virus, which is a common STD that leads to cervical cancer in women.

Fish oil has always been considered good for the eyes; recent studies have shown that the Omega 3 fatty acids found in fish oil offer protection against age-related macular degeneration, which is one of the foremost causes of age-related blindness, and dry-eye syndrome in which the lachrymal glands do not function properly and the cornea can get scarred.

A recent study conducted in Denmark has found that fish oil consumption by diabetics lowered the content of triacylglycerol, (TAG) in the blood. TAG is a fatty substance linked to heart disease. Obese individuals who suffer from hypertension, insulin resistance, and high blood triglycerides can lose weight more effectively if they follow a regimen of exercise combined with regular intake of fish oil. This is because the Omega 3 fatty acids enhance the fuel-burning capacities of the cells. A study conducted in Japan found that Statins, which is drug used to lower cholesterol levels, was more useful when used in conjunction with fish oil.

Fish oil serves as a remedy for ulcerative colitis, which is an ailment of the digestive tract, characterized inflammatory pseudopolyps. Fish oil taken in conjunction with antioxidants and fiber-rich foods, helps control this ailment.

Shawn Peltzer recommends that you visit http://www.fish-oil.tv for more information on fish oil.

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