Fish Oil is a common supplement you’ll see in the shops and online. Fish Oil is mainly made up of Omega 3 Fatty Acids which are polyunsaturated Fatty Acids that have many health benefits. The three types involved in human nutrition are alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenic acid (DHA). ALA is mainly found in plant oils while EPA and DHA are usually found in cold water fish.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids have several proven health benefits for humans. These include improved cognitive function, improved metabolism and reduction in heart disease risk. One of the main mechanisms through which Omega 3 oils produce their benefits is through their anti inflammatory effects. Inflammation can cause a number of health problems such as heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimer’s Disease and Omega 3 fatty acids can help significantly with the management of these conditions.
Omega 3 fatty acids are also the main constituents of the fluid membranes of human cells. When you don’t have enough Omega 3 in your diet your cell membranes become less fluid and cells can’t communicate with each other as effectively as usual which can lead to problems. Fish oil has also been shown to reduce triglycerides (a strong marker for heart disease incidence!) in the blood and improve insulin sensitivity which can help with the long term deterioration which is Type II diabetes.
Fish oil can be consumed as a capsule or a liquid and research would suggest that most healthy people can ingest from 10-20 grammes a day of fish oil to see the most benefits. One of the brands we recommend to our clients is Eskimo 3 Oil by Nutri. I have personally used this brand for over 10 years and I have recommended it to dozens of my own clients and only have positive things to say about the company and the product.