Omega-3 fish oil or Fish oil omega 3 has received a lot of attention for its health benefits and rightfully so. Omega-3s are a type of healthy fat that is found in fish oil, which can help with so many different aspects of your health. These fats fight inflammation, boost heart health, and improve brain function too. But how does omega-3 fish oil really impact daily life? Let’s take a look.
What Are Omega-3 Fatty Acids?
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fats, which means your body can’t make them on its own. You have to get them from the food you eat or through supplementation. The most important types of omega-3s in fish oil include EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), and they’re found in fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, and sardines.
Omega-3 fish oil is perhaps one of the most useful supplements in the market. People take omega-3 fish oil supplements when they don’t eat enough fish in their regular diet. Fish oil makes it easy to get the important nutrients.
Fighting Inflammation
One of the primary benefits of omega-3 fish oil is that it helps fight inflammation in the body. Inflammation is a natural process that your body uses to heal from injuries and infections. However, too much inflammation, especially if it becomes chronic, can cause a number of health problems including heart disease, arthritis and even cancer.
How Omega-3s Reduce Inflammation
Omega-3 fatty acids reduce the production of molecules linked to inflammation. Fish oil’s EPA and DHA help lower levels of these substances in the blood. Chronic diseases are often associated with raised inflammation, so taking omega-3s is beneficial.
In people with rheumatoid arthritis, omega-3s have been shown to decrease joint pain and morning stiffness. Some individuals might even be able to take less pain-relieving medication after regularly taking fish oil supplements.
Boosting Heart Health
Another major benefit of omega-3 fish oil is its positive effect on heart health. Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and omega-3s have been shown to help reduce several risk factors associated with heart problems.
How Omega-3s Help the Heart
Omega-3s can lower triglyceride levels, the fats found in your blood. Triglyceride levels that are too high increase the risk of heart disease. Omega-3s also help to reduce blood pressure in people with high blood pressure, which takes some of the strain off the heart. In addition, they can stop blood clots from forming – which helps to reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks.
Research has shown that people who consume omega-3s on a regular basis through eating fish, or taking capsules have a lower incidence of heart disease. Omega’ s aren’t going to turn you into superman (or woman) overnight but they certainly play their part when it comes to having a healthy heart!
Supporting Brain Function
Omega-3 fish oil doesn’t only improve the body, but also benefits the brain. DHA is actually a major structural fat in our brain and it plays an even greater role when it comes to our children’s developing brains! But that’s not all — omega-3s benefit adult brains too.
Omega-3s and Mental Health
Omega-3s have been shown to reduce symptoms of depression. In some cases, omega-3 supplements need to be paired with traditional antidepressant medication in order to work, but they are certainly not a failure. Low levels of the omega-3 fats EPA and DHA are associated with depression in several studies, and there is evidence that supplementing with these fatty acids in individuals with depression can reduce symptoms. Omega-3s also help lower symptoms of other mental disorders including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
Research has confirmed what we suspected: Omega-3 fatty acids, namely EPA, have positive effects on mood. EPA-rich fish oil lowered depression scores for those who already suffered from major depressive disorder.
Supporting Eye Health
You may not think about fish oil in relation to your eyes, but omega-3 fatty acids are actually essential for eye health. DHA is present in high concentrations in the retina of your eye and plays a crucial role in maintaining good vision.
Omega-3s and Dry Eyes
If you don’t get enough omega-3s, you might be more likely to suffer from dry eye syndrome, which is when your eyes either stop making tears or they produce tears that evaporate too quickly. Omega-3s can help reduce the symptoms of dry eyes by supporting healthy tear function. In fact, some studies have suggested that omega-3 supplements might also help prevent age-related macular degeneration, which can cause blindness.
Improving Skin Health
Omega-3 fish oil can also do wonders for your skin. EPA helps to keep the skin moisturised and can decrease redness, swelling and itchiness. People who suffer from skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis may notice that taking omega-3 supplements calms their symptoms.
Omega-3s for Healthy Skin
They also work to strengthen the skin barrier, protecting it from pollutants, irritants and sun damage. Omega-3s have been shown to help regulate oil production in the skin as well which may help prevent acne. By keeping your skin healthy from the inside out, omega-3s give you that natural glow.
Enhancing Joint Health
Omega-3s help fight inflammation, which is especially beneficial for those suffering from joint pain or arthritis. They also help keep your joint cartilage healthy. Cartilage cushions your joints and helps them move smoothly. Maintaining healthy cartilage means better mobility and less pain.
Omega-3s for Active People
If you’re an active person, omega-3s can also help reduce muscle soreness post-exercise and enhance muscle recovery. That’s why omega-3 supplementation with fish oil can be a great support for joint health if you frequently engage in activities putting additional stress on your joints.
Conclusion
Benefits of omega-3 fish oil are numerous and include supporting the health of your heart, brain, eyes and skin. Fight inflammation, reduce your risk of chronic disease, boost mental health and support your overall well-being by including a little fish oil in your diet every day.
Keep in mind that it’s best to obtain omega-3 fatty acids from a diet consistently low in omega-6-rich vegetable oils as opposed to taking supplements. In addition to taking an omega-3 fish oil supplement like cod liver oil or krill oil (preferably fermented), you’ll also want to include plenty of low-mercury fish in your diet along with other omega-3 foods.
By knowing how omega-3s work in your body, you can better appreciate the incredible impact they have on improving your daily life. However, you should talk to your doctor before adding a new supplement – to make sure it’s right for you and your overall health.
