Fish oil, also known as the oil extracted from fish tissue, is one of the most consumed nutritional supplements in the US. The oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which have many beneficial effects on human health. Unfortunately, the human body can’t make omega-3 fatty acids, so you’ll have to rely on foods like fatty fish, such as mackerel, tuna, and herring, to get them. But if you don’t eat a lot of oily fish, taking a fish oil supplement every day can help you meet your daily requirements for omega-3 fatty acids. That said, omega-3 fatty acids can also be obtained from plant sources, such as walnuts and soybeans, but research has shown that omega-3s obtained from fish oil are more beneficial to human health. So how exactly do omega-3 fatty acids help you? To answer this, eat this, not that! Salud spoke with Megan Wong, a registered dietitian at AlgaeLime, who explains what happens to your body when you take fish oils. Read on to discover the various ways that fish oil pills can benefit your health.
According to Wong, “Omega-3 fatty acids not only reduce the production of substances that trigger inflammation, but also research has been shown to also increase levels of molecules that actively fight inflammation. These are called specialized pro-resolution mediators (or SPMs).”
Fish oils can also do your bones a lot of good. “Chronic inflammation is one of the underlying causes of osteoporosis,” says Wong. She added that “taking omega-3 fatty acids can help keep inflammation at bay, which in turn strengthens bones. But one way to keep bones strong and healthy is often overlooked.”
According to Wong, “one of the last systematic reviews on omega-3 fatty acids and heart health concluded that omega-3 fatty acids reduced cardiovascular mortality and improved cardiovascular outcomes.” He noted, “This is not surprising since we know that omega-3s are involved in the regulation of vasodilation, platelet aggregation, inflammation and oxidation. Keeping them under control helps ensure you have healthy blood pressure, cholesterol and blood flow.”
Wong explains that “omega-3 fats are necessary to build brain and nerve cells and are crucial for proper brain development and function. They improve communication between the brain and nerve cells and protect against inflammation. If you’re focusing for brain health, look for an omega-3 supplement with more docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), as DHA plays a larger role in brain health than eicosapentaenoic acid EPA, even though both are omega-3 fatty acids “.
“Studies show that omega-3 fatty acids can help improve dry eyes and offer protection against macular degeneration and glaucoma,” says Wong. “These benefits likely come from its anti-inflammatory properties and its ability to enhance oil production in the eye glands, keeping the eyes lubricated,” she added.
Richard Adefioye
Richard Adefioye is a freelance writer with a passion for all things health, fitness and wellness. Read more about Richard
