Omega-3 fatty acids play a huge role in our body’s overall function, health, and happiness! Fish oils are potent and available source of Omega-3s (EPA and DHA).
What are the benefits?
Omegas 3’s are anti-inflammatory throughout the whole body. Deficiency of Omega 3’s is known to be an underlying factor of up to 100,000 deaths each year. Fish oil is helpful to treat and prevent a wide variety of ailments:
| Reduce risk of several types of cancer | Reduced rate of cognitive decline | Reduce risk of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. |
| Decrease in anxiety and/or aggression | Regulate mood disorders. Reduce depressive symptoms in bipolar disorder | Prevent and treat skin disorders |
| Effective in reducing ADHD symptoms | Promotes healthy blood vessels, reduces blood pressure | Prevent heart disease. |
| Reduce symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (high dose) |
How do I know if I need fish oil?
The majority of North American’s do not get enough Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3’s should be balanced with Omega-6’s consumed, your ideal ratio is 1:1. Unfortunately our typical American diet tends to be 14-25 times more omega-6 than omega-3. If you answer yes to one or more of these question, an omega-3 supplement may be something that can benefit you.
| YES | NO | |
| Do you eat less than 3 meals that contain fatty fish each week? | ||
| Do you have a diet high in Omega-6 (eat a lot of red meat, eggs, vegetable oil, or canola oil)? | ||
| Do you have high blood pressure? | ||
| Do you have high triglyceride levels? | ||
| Do you experience trouble concentrating? | ||
| Do you have difficulty with memory? |
Note: Fish oils should only be taken under supervision of a healthcare professional if you are currently taking any blood thinning medication.
How do I know which fish oil to choose?
There are two main things you want to look at before purchasing fish oil:
1) The ratio of EPA and DHA. It should have a 300/200 ratio of EPA to DHA.
2) The potency! It is important to look at how much DHA and EPA is in a teaspoon. A good brand will have about 500 mg of DHA and 750 mg (OR MORE) per teaspoon (5 ml).
Some other things to consider:
- Because of the risk of potential toxins, it is important to choose a reputable fish oil brand that certifies their product as free from heavy metals and toxins.
- Liquid sources are generally preferred to pills since they have a higher purity (and you also have less risk of fish burps.. gross..)
- Do not buy a fish oil in a clear bottle. UV light can damage the fish oil.
References:
Omega 3 Fatty Acids. University of Maryland Medical Center. 2015. Accessed June 7 2015. http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/omega3-fatty-acids
Fish Oil. Examine.com. October 26, 2014. Accessed June 7 2015. https://examine.com/supplements/fish-oil/
Fish Oil Cited in Dramatic Healing after Severe Brain Trauma. Mercola. February 9 2014. Accessed June 8 2015. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/02/09/fish-oil-brain-health.aspx
