The many healthy
benefits of fish oıl
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MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO scientists in Sweden discovered that Greenland
Eskimos had fewer heart conditions than the general population. Since
Eskimo diets contained large amounts of fish, scientists began to study the
link between fish oil and heart health.
According to the American Heart Association and the National Institutes
of Health (NIH), there is strong evidence from multiple large-scale population
studies that dietary fish oil supplements may help promote healthy cholesterol levels and maintain ideal heart function, promote vascular health and
maintain normal blood pressure.
Today, studies continue to show the many healthy benefits of fish oil,
including not only heart health but also mood and joint health.
Heart health
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are omega- 3
fatty acids found in cold-water fish.
The American Heart Association says several studies show that regular
consumption of fish oil or omega- 3 supplements containing 850 to 1,800 mg of
EPA and DHA improves cardiovascular function.
According to the NIH, other studies report help with maintaining ideal
blood pressure with intake of omega- 3 fatty acids. Benefits may be greater in
those with less than ideal blood pressures. Effects appear to be dose responsive
(higher doses have greater effects).
Mood support
In The Journal of the American Medical Association, The American
Journal of Psychiatry and the Journal of Affective Disorders, researchers
concluded that people who commonly experience low moods had significantly less omega- 3 in their red blood cell membranes. Psychiatry
department researchers at the University of Sheffield, along with many
other research studies, found that fish oil supplements helped support
positive moods and emotional well-being.
The underlying theory is that serotonin, a messenger chemical affecting
mood, passes through cell membranes more easily when more omega- 3 is
present. The NIH agrees that there has been “promising initial evidence.”
