Fish Oil Benefits Every Aspect Of Your Health

By Daniel Fittman

Once you start talking about fish oil benefits, it seems like there is a benefit for every system in your body. While it may seem nothing short of miraculous, there is good reason for this. Fish oil provides something without which your body cannot perform as it should.

When it comes to fish oil, not all fish are created equal. The oil needs to be from cold water oily fish such as salmon, cod, mackerel and herring, to name a few. The deeper and fresher the water, the better for your health as the fish will be less likely to contain mercury.

What the fish oil provides you in particular is Omega 3 fatty acids. These acids are needed by our bodies to function but we are not able to make what we need. These acids must be acquired from either supplements or diet. And it is not easy to eat enough oily fish to provide all the fatty acids that we need.

These fish oil fatty acids are necessary for many systems in the body but one of the most important is the cardiovascular system. Studies have shown that they have an effect on the cholesterol levels in the body, increasing the good cholesterol and decreasing the bad. They inhibit production of artery plaques, therefore helping to protect from strokes and heart attacks. In addition, they help to lower blood pressure.

Omega 3 acids are essential for good brain health as well. They have a direct impact on the cognitive and behavioral functioning of the brain. A deficiency in these acids has been linked to several different disorders including mental illnesses and diseases such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons. Fish oil supplements are proving to have a positive effect on sufferers, including children, of ADD and ADHD.

The Omega 3s found in fish oil are also essential in development of both the brain and the nervous system. Pregnant women should be sure that they are getting enough of these fatty acids for good fetal development. There are some studies that have shown that premature deliveries are less likely when the mother is supplementing with fish oil.

The fatty acids in fish oil have a role in the inflammatory response of the body. They can be very helpful in reducing inflammation and, therefore, pain in all inflammatory conditions in the body including arthritis, lupus, inflammatory bowel disease and prostatitis. The anti-inflammatory quality of the oil can actually help reduce wrinkles as well. This, plus encouraging increased production of collagen can result in younger looking skin.

There are studies that have found fish oil to be a possible aid for cancer prevention, especially in the colon, prostrate and breast. The fatty acids help to keep normal cells from becoming cancerous, they kill off cancer cells and stop abnormal cell growth.

Another fish oil benefit, but hardly the last, is promotion of serotonin production and inhibition of stress producing hormones. Serotonin is a hormone that basically makes us feel good from an emotional standpoint. Between these two functions, we feel happier and less stressed and, as a result, our immune system is stronger as well.

The list actually does go on. Hard as it may be to believe, there are even more fish oil benefits than these. If you are looking for a supplement, just be sure to look for a good quality one that is 100% deep-sea fish oil with no fillers or preservatives. - 30414

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