Fish Oil Benefits and
Clinical Studies
Cardiovascular
Benefits
General heart
benefits:
Heart disease is
a widespread health problem in
modern society. Fish oil, rich
in omega-3 fatty acids
(DHA and EPA) has been proven in
many clinical studies to benefit
heart health, also supported by
the American Heart Association
guidelines.
Lowers
Triglycerides:
The effectiveness
of Fish oil in lowering blood
triglycerides (fats) known to be
a risk factor for cardiovascular
disease has been well
established in multiple clinical
studies.
Benefits
Hypertension (High blood
pressure):
Fish oil has been shown to lower
mild hypertension when it is due
to cardiovascular disease,
specifically high cholesterol
and atherosclerosis (hardening
of the artery walls).
Anti-clotting:
Fish oil helps
avoid thrombosis (blood clots)
as it prevents platelets
(smallest cells in the blood) to
stick together and form blood
clots.
Reduces Heart
Irregularities:
Fish oil...
especially the DHA content of it
has been shown to lower heart
rates and also prevent
arrhythmias (disturbances of the
normal rhythm in the heart's
beating), thus decreasing the
chance of sudden death by a
heart attack.
Circulatory
problems:
Circulatory problems such as
varicose veins and Raynaud's
disease benefit from fish oil.
Fish oil stimulates blood
circulation and increases the
breakdown of fibrin, a compound
involved in clot and scar
formation.
Brain function
Depression:
Persons with
mood disorders such as
depression benefit from fish oil
supplementation. Lack of omega-3
fatty acids and in particular
DHA has been linked by
researchers to depression.
Aggression:
A new study
of teenagers has found that fish
oil and DHA consumption relates
to lower hostility rates in
teenagers. Hostility has
been shown to predict the
development and manifestation of
heart disease.
Attention
Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHD), dyslexia and dyspraxia:
Like
depression and other mood
disorders, persons who suffer
from ADHD, dyslexia and
dyspraxia (absence of ability to
perform coordinated skilled
movements or clumsiness) benefit
from fish oil supplementation.
Memory,
learning and Alzheimer's
Disease:
Studies have proven that omega-3
fatty acids improve brain
function and that intake of fish
oil and DHA is linked to a
lowered risk of developing
Alzheimer's disease. Studies
suggest that fish oil and DHA
may protect the nervous system.
Allergies:
Studies learn
that omega-3 fatty acid-intake
by mothers during pregnancy may
protect babies against the
development of allergies.
Fish oil has been found to
protect against symptoms of hay
fever, sinus infections, asthma,
food allergies and allergic skin
conditions such as hives and
eczema
Skin disorders and skin
health:
Skin disorders
such as psoriasis have been
shown to improve from fish oils.
In the skin of persons with
psoriasis the amount of
compounds causing inflammation
is many times greater than
normal. Fish oil inhibits the
production of these inflammatory
compounds. Fish oil improves the
health of skin, nails and hair.
Arthritis and
gout:
Fish oil supplements have been
shown to benefit in rheumatoid
arthritis (RA), and other
inflammatory forms of arthritis,
such as occurs in some persons
with psoriasis and gout. EPA and
DHA in fish oil reduce the
amount of compounds causing
inflammation.
Diabetes:
Diabetics
suffering from non-insulin
dependent diabetes or type II
diabetes benefit from fish oil
supplementation. Research show
that persons who consume 5-10
percent of their dietary energy
consumption in the form of fish
or fish oil, have less insulin
resistance.
Immune system and
cancer:
The intake
of fish oil has been proven to
be beneficial for the body's
immune function. Research has
linked intake of fish oil to a
lowered risk of breast cancer
and prostate cancer.
Women's benefits:
The
consumption of fish oil lowers
the risk for cardiovascular
disease and osteoporosis in
post-menopausal women.
Pre-Menstrual symptoms such as
menstrual pain are often
alleviated from the use of fish
oil supplementation. Omega-3
fatty acids are converted into
pain relieving substances
(prostaglandins type-3) that
control contractions of the
uterus, which cause the
cramping.
Visual function:
Research has shown that
consumption of fish oil is
linked to lowered risk of age
related macular degeneration, an
eye condition which is the
leading cause of severe visual
loss in people over age 50.
Inflammatory
bowel disease:
Fish oil has been
proven to be beneficial in
intestinal health. Fish oil has
an anti-inflammatory effect in
inflammatory bowel disease
(Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's
disease).
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