With problems like obesity, arthritis, diabetes and heart disease rampant in modern society, the search is on for natural ways to help people deal with these conditions without expensive medical treatments or prescription medications which come with undesirable side effects.
One answer to this problem could be fish oil. Fish oil has been touted by everyone from nutritionists to nurses and doctors as a powerful tool for promoting both cardiac health and the health of the entire body. It is not just the heart which benefits from Omega-3 fatty acids but the joints, muscles, brain and skin, so the beneficial effects are felt by the nearly every system. Below is a break-down of five ways in which fish oil protects the heart and body.
Reduces Inflammation
Two of the active ingredients in fish oil, known as EPA and DHA, have powerful anti-inflammatory properties and are useful for chronic inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lower back pain and lupus. Since there is an increasing body of evidence to suggest that diabetes and cardiac disease, among others, are related to chronic inflammation, this is one way in which fish oil helps protect against those conditions, too.
Lowers Cancer Risk
In a 2010, researchers from Seattle conducted a study which looked at the effects of fish oils rich in EPA and DHA on women’s health in regards to breast cancer. The results, published later in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, found that women who were compliant with a regimen of fish oil supplementation had a 32% less chance of developing breast cancer. In a similar study, it was found that fish oil is also effective at preventing the onset of prostate cancer in men, though in this case it was believed that the fatty acids were responsible for this benefit.
Slows Aging
One mark of aging at the molecular level is the shortening of telomeres, chromosomes located at the end of strands of DNA. As these telomeres shorten, the body is less able to divide the chromosomes, which is necessary to sustain health. Fish oil comes into play here by helping to retain the structural integrity of the telomeres, preventing them from being shortened and thus helping the body to age more slowly.
Supports Healthy Joints and Muscles
Athletes who work out regularly and those suffering from arthritis can both benefit from fish oil supplementation. In regards to arthritis, not only does the DHA and EPA help reduce inflammation of the joint, but they also are able to lubricate it. Fish oil can also help build muscles, due to the fact that it facilitates the making of proteins, which are the building blocks of muscle.
Promotes Cardiac Health
Fish oil also promotes cardiac health. Omega-3 fatty acids, in multiple studies, have shown consistently to be able to protect the heart against the onset of serious illness. This is not only because fish oil is able to reduce inflammation, but because it also has a regulating effect on both blood pressure and cholesterol levels, both of which are important in the prevention of heart disease.
In conclusion, supplementing with fish oil truly does have some amazing benefits, from reducing chronic inflammation to promoting good cardiac health and function. It is an inexpensive and easy way to greatly improve one’s overall health.
(Sources : vitasearch.com, jnutbio.com, umm.edu, umm.edu )
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