Fish oils, what are their health benefits? Especially the oils guaranteed to be non-toxic?

Question

What do fish oils do for you? Do they help to keep your arteries cleaned out or what? I hear a lot about fish oils but actually know very little of their benefits. Dave.

Answer 1

Scientists noticed a curiously low incidence of heart disease among Greenland Eskimos despite their high-fat diet. The reason?

They were eating fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Later studies confirmed the cardioprotective effect of fish oils while uncovering other benefits as well.

The fat in fish has a form of polyunsaturated fatty acids called omega-3s. These differ from the polyunsaturated fatty acids found in vegetable oils (called omega-6s), and they have different effects on the body. (Fish don't manufacture such fats but get them from the plankton they eat-the colder the water, the more omega-3s the plankton contains.)

The two most potent forms of omega-3s, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA), are found in abundance in cold-water fish such as salmon, trout, mackerel, and tuna (including the canned variety).

The sources of a third type of omega-3, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), are certain vegetable oils (such as flaxseed oil) and leafy greens (such as purslane). However, ALA doesn't affect the body in the same way that EPA and DHA do.

Omega-3s play a key role in a range of vital body processes, from blood pressure and blood clotting to inflammation and immunity. They may be useful for preventing or treating many diseases and disorders.

Prevention:

Fish oils appear to reduce the risk of heart disease. They do this in several ways. Most importantly, the presence of omega-3s makes platelets in the blood less likely to clump together and form the clots that lead to heart attacks. Next, omega-3s can reduce triglycerides (blood fats related to cholesterol) and may lower blood pressure.

In addition, recent research has shown that omega-3s strengthen the heart's electrical system, preventing heart-rhythm abnormalities. However, the strongest evidence for the cardiovascular benefits of fish oils comes from studies in which the participants ate fish rather than taking fish oil supplements.

Within the artery walls, omega-3s inhibit inflammation, which is a factor in plaque buildup. As a result, therapeutic doses of fish oils are one of the few successful ways to prevent the reblockage of arteries that commonly occurs after angioplasty, a procedure in which a small balloon is guided through an artery to a blockage and then is inflated to compress plaque, widen the vessel, and improve blood flow to the heart. This effect on blood vessels makes fish oils helpful for Raynaud's disease as well.

Additional benefits:

Omega-3s are also effective general anti-inflammatories, useful for joint problems, lupus, and psoriasis. Studies indicate that people with rheumatoid arthritis experience less joint swelling and stiffness, and may even be able to manage on lower doses of anti-inflammatory drugs, when they take fish oil supplements.

In a yearlong study of people with Crohn's disease (a painful type of inflammatory bowel disease), 69% of those taking enteric-coated fish oil supplements (about 3 grams of fish oils a day) stayed symptom-free, compared with just 28% of those receiving a placebo.

Fish oils may also help ease menstrual cramps. In addition, omega-3s may play a role in mental health. Some experts believe there's a correlation between the increasing incidence of depression in the United States and the declining consumption of fish.

And a preliminary study suggested that omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the severity of schizophrenia by about 25%.

Fish oils may help prevent colon cancer. Participants in a recent study who took 4,400 mg of fish oils a day produced much less of one potent carcinogen associated with colon cancer than those on a placebo.

According to a preliminary study from the University of California, Los Angeles, omega-3s may help fight breast cancer and maintain healthy breast tissue. Animal studies also indicate that fewer breast tumors develop when fish oils are part of a healthy diet.

Forms : Fish oil comes in softgel , capsules, and liquid formats.

When you find you can't tolerate one brand of fish oil supplements, try another. Side effects vary from brand to brand.

Don't try to save money by buying fish oil supplements in bulk because they can go rancid very quickly. Always store fish oil pills in the refrigerator.

Don't buy cod liver oil to get your omega-3s. It contains high amounts of vitamin A and vitamin D, both of which can be toxic in large doses.

Common Uses -
Help prevent cardiovascular disease; useful for other circulatory conditions as well.
Block disease-related inflammatory responses in the body.
May lower blood pressure.

Guidelines for use:

Fish oil supplements are not necessary for heart disease prevention or treatment if you eat fish at least twice a week. However, supplements are recommended for rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory conditions.

Take capsules with meals. Supplements may be easier to tolerate if you take them in divided doses; for example, 1,000 mg three times a day,
instead of 3,000 mg in one sitting.

Fish oil capsules may cause belching, flatulence, bloating, nausea, and diarrhea. Very high doses may result in a slightly fishy body odor. There's some concern high doses can lead to internal bleeding. But a study of people with heart disease who took 8,000 mg of fish oil supplements in addition to aspirin (an anticoagulant) found no increase in internal bleeding.

Some studies found high doses of fish oils worsen blood sugar control in people with diabetes; others have shown no effect. To be safe, people with diabetes should not take more than 2,000 mg of fish oil supplements a day without the advice of their doctor.

Individuals with high fasting triglycerides should be careful if they also have high LDL ("bad") cholesterol: Therapeutic doses of fish oils can increase LDL.

Garlic supplements, however, may be the remedy. One study found garlic reversed the fish oils' LDL-raising effect. For rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory conditions, eating fish is probably not sufficient, and fish oil supplements are recommended.

Warnings -

Because omega-3 fatty acids inhibit blood clotting, consult a doctor before using fish oil supplements if you have a blood disorder or if you are taking anticoagulant medications such as enoxaparin and warfarin.

Fish oils intensify the blood-thinning effect of long-term aspirin use and may lead to internal or excessive bleeding.

Don't take fish oil supplements two days before or after surgery.

High doses of fish oils may worsen blood sugar control in people with diabetes.

Reminder: If you have a medical condition, talk to your doctor before taking supplements.

Answer 2

Hi whataday,
I wouldn't want to repeat the same as most people have given you the benefits of fish oils (omega-3 fatty acids). What i would like to highlight to you is additional point to help you to make a good consumer decision in future.
There's no guarantee for the fish oils not to be toxic-free forever as you may know that the world is very much polluted nowadays. Everyday we dump millions of millions toxins onto out river and sea and the sea creatures live with it. Unfortunately, the deep fish (that's where the oils is extracted from) also takes in the toxins especially the heavy metals compound. What the manucfacture guarantees is that the current source of the oils is low in toxin component or less polluted. You don't have to believe me of everything, check the recent independant article websites* listed below.

Secondly, If your are concern about reducing the risk factors for heart disease, there are other components of products that may be helpful to know. Omega-3 oils must combined with the phytosterols (plant) for it to be effective in reducing the heart disease disease.

You may also want to consider antioxidant to fight the free radical that is damaging the cells in your heart. One of the strong antioxidant that is strongly recommended is "Pycnogenol" that is commonly found in the plant. Most over the counter would recommend getting "Pycnogenol" from Pine Bark extract but there is another source that have higher concentratioan than Pine Bark. It is found in the seeds of grapes. Ever heard of the "French" syndrome whereby the nations have lower rates of heart disease as compare to Americans eventhough their diet have more fats? That's right. However, to my knowledge there's only one company that is holding a patented formula to this product.

So, I would normally say that the combination of the omega-3 plus the plant sterols and a good antioxidants would really arm our body (heart) for the fight. If i'm given a choice, I would go for alternative medicine as it have much less side effect as compared to the pharmaceutical medicine. On top of that, the combination product i listed above also help in other function of the body functions unlike the medicine where is targeted.
Should you would like to know more of the above discussion or product location, I can pinpoint it to you. Feel free to email for further discussion.


Thanks for allowing me to share. I hope the above information is beneficial to you.
"Ask and you shall receive ... answers"

Answer 3

Go for omega 6 for plant sources instead - more readily absorped and utliised by the body with greater health benefits.

Answer 4

They are wonderful and can help in so many ways. Help your arteries, joints, bowels, heart, brain waves, Cleans out kidney stones, and is so helpfull in many ways. Some can not take fish oil, but if your able , the results are Great !!

Answer 5

Ive heard nothing but Great things about Omega 3 fatty acids...Please check this website for more info it also answers all your other questions

http://www.truthaboutomega3.com/omega.html?pg=g01-001-1000D

Answer 6

They are good for you, they have omega-3 fatty acids. They help lubricate joints and help the circulation of your arteries.