Finding the Best Fish Oil
Topic: Trans fatty acid
Related Topics:
Aspirin, Carcinogens, Esters, Fatty Acid Content, Fish Oil, Fish Oils, Good Health, Health Problems, Hormones, Immune System, Molecules, Nutrients, Omega 3, Omega 6 Fatty Acids, Triglycerides
By: Laurel Cohen
What can the best fish oil do for you? That depends on how your diet is right now and whether or not you are in good health.
If everyone had a perfect diet, no one would need the nutrients found in the best fish oils. But, nobody’s perfect and modern living makes it even harder to be that way.
As researchers have watched the rise in what they refer to as “modern” illnesses, they have tried to determine what caused the increase. There is no doubt that increased numbers of carcinogens in the environment have played a role. The stress of modern living may be to blame, as well. But, diet is one of the biggest factors and it is the only one that we can really control.
There are two groups of fatty acids that we must consume, because they are needed for the body to create hormones, cellular membranes, neurons and other structures. They are called omega-6s and omega-3s.
Lots of people get too many omega-6s in their diets and not enough omega-3s. If you are one of those people, then the best fish oils can help correct the imbalance by providing the necessary omega-3s.
Researchers have found that chronic inflammation contributes to a number of health probl
ems. Omega-6 fatty acids are converted within the body into inflammatory molecules, while omega-3s are converted into less inflammatory ones. They also stimulate the production of signals that tell the immune system to stop the inflammation.
The best fish oil has anti-inflammatory activity, but not just because of the omega-3s. Researchers have yet to determine how it works, but they know that the anti-inflammatory activity is similar to aspirin.
The natural triglycerides seem to have anti-inflammatory activity that cannot be explained solely by the fatty acid content, because concentrated esters, which are high in omega-3s, have less anti-inflammatory activity. So, there are still some things that we don’t know.
We do know that omega-3 supplements have proven beneficial for people with arthritis, asthma, depression, Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and many other conditions. But, most people take them because they may reduce their risk of age-related heart diseases, like atherosclerosis.
Researchers began investigating the benefit to the heart, because of the Eskimo paradox. Years ago, researchers found that native Inuit populations had a lower than expected incidence of heart disease, considering that their diets were very high in fat. After some investigation, they learned that the fat in their diets was primarily omega-3 fat.
Even the best fish oils will not reduce your risk of heart disease if you are not careful about the other kinds of foods that you eat. You will need to reduce your consumption of foods that are high in omega-6 fat. Corn oil is a good example. Limit your intake of saturated fats and avoid trans-fatty acids completely. You should find that some changes are relatively easy to make.
If you make those changes and take the best fish oil on a daily basis, you can hope to live a longer, healthier life.
What can the best fish oil do for you? That depends on how your diet is right now and whether or not you are in good health.
If everyone had a perfect diet, no one would need the nutrients found in the best fish oils. But, nobody’s perfect and modern living makes it even harder to be that way.
As researchers have watched the rise in what they refer to as “modern” illnesses, they have tried to determine what caused the increase. There is no doubt that increased numbers of carcinogens in the environment have played a role. The stress of modern living may be to blame, as well. But, diet is one of the biggest factors and it is the only one that we can really control.
There are two groups of fatty acids that we must consume, because they are needed for the body to create hormones, cellular membranes, neurons and other structures. They are called omega-6s and omega-3s.
Lots of people get too many omega-6s in their diets and not enough omega-3s. If you are one of those people, then the best fish oils can help correct the imbalance by providing the necessary omega-3s.
Researchers have found that chronic inflammation contributes to a number of health probl
The best fish oil has anti-inflammatory activity, but not just because of the omega-3s. Researchers have yet to determine how it works, but they know that the anti-inflammatory activity is similar to aspirin.
The natural triglycerides seem to have anti-inflammatory activity that cannot be explained solely by the fatty acid content, because concentrated esters, which are high in omega-3s, have less anti-inflammatory activity. So, there are still some things that we don’t know.
We do know that omega-3 supplements have proven beneficial for people with arthritis, asthma, depression, Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and many other conditions. But, most people take them because they may reduce their risk of age-related heart diseases, like atherosclerosis.
Researchers began investigating the benefit to the heart, because of the Eskimo paradox. Years ago, researchers found that native Inuit populations had a lower than expected incidence of heart disease, considering that their diets were very high in fat. After some investigation, they learned that the fat in their diets was primarily omega-3 fat.
Even the best fish oils will not reduce your risk of heart disease if you are not careful about the other kinds of foods that you eat. You will need to reduce your consumption of foods that are high in omega-6 fat. Corn oil is a good example. Limit your intake of saturated fats and avoid trans-fatty acids completely. You should find that some changes are relatively easy to make.
If you make those changes and take the best fish oil on a daily basis, you can hope to live a longer, healthier life.
Laurel Cohen is a strong advocate of natural health in all its forms: skin care, supplementation, and farm fresh foods. She enjoys introducing people to the best natural products she can find and uses herself daily. Visit her site http://www.omega-3-for-health.com to learn about the omega 3 fish oils Laurel uses daily for optimal health.
