Nutrition

 by: Shwn Paeltzer

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.