Fish Oil

Fish Oil

Fish Oil Omega 3s -- Top 10 Reasons Your Body Needs Them to Stay Healthy

You've probably heard numerous times that you should eat wild fish or take your fish oil supplements, but what is fish oil good for exactly? And why do so many studies tout it? Check out this top ten to see how the benefits of fish oil are just as critical as they are amazing.
Top 10 Fish Oil Benefits For Staying Healthy
1. Fish oil provides omega 3s that our cells need to work properly. The omega 3 essential fatty acids in fish oil -- DHA and EPA -- are necessary for optimum functioning of our bodies and minds, and ultimately, our long-term health. When we don't get them (as in most Western diets), our bodies can't run properly and start to break down.
2. Fish oil promotes heart health by protecting against heart disease. Many studies show that fish oil benefits our hearts. A recent five-year Japanese study found that fish oil supplements reduce cholesterol levels and yield a 19% heart disease risk reduction. Italian researchers found that fish oil supplements create a 45% reduction in the rate of sudden cardiac death.
3. Omega 3 fish oil benefits you by protecting against cancer. When cells are "well-oiled," they flourish, reducing risk of abnormal cell proliferation and thereby reducing cancer risk. In other words, healthy cells with sufficient omega 3s are strong cells that don't let cancer cells thrive.
4. Fish oil keeps inflammation down. Without omega 3s, cells can't keep inflammation down. Some researchers believe that when inflammation is chronic, further cell function is impeded, creating the underlying cause of most of today's major diseases, like diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and stroke.
5. Fish oil benefits your eyesight. Fatty acids keep nerve cells in your eyes functioning properly and reduce risk for age-related blindness and vision loss. In fact, studies show that people who eat the most fish have the fewest eye problems.
6. Fish oil benefits your intelligence/brain power. The brain is made up of mostly fat (60%) and most of that fat is DHA. DHA is necessary for healthy communication between the brain and nervous system. When it's not there, the system breaks down.
7. Omega 3 fish oil benefits by balancing out omega 6s. Omega 3s decrease inflammation; omega 6s increase inflation. And the two need to be in balance. Due to the increase in soy bean oil (it's in most processed foods) and other items in Western diets, we get many omega 6s and not enough omega 3s.
8. Fish oil benefits your mood -- from depression to bipolar disorder to your basic happiness quotient. Not getting enough omega 3 is linked to major psychological problems, like bipolar disorder, alcohol abuse and ADHD. A recent study shows that omega 3s benefit everyone's psychological health, right down to simple mood swings. In fact, fish oil has been shown to lift depression more effectively than prescription meds.
9. Fish oil benefits weight loss. Omega 3s help curb hunger, burn fat and reduce excess body fat at a very quick rate helping you achieve and maintain a lean body.
10. Fish oil benefits your quality of life. As many studies show, in countries where people eat plenty of oily fish -- like Japan where people eat eight to 15 times more than in western cultures -- people have fewer heart problems and live longer, even though they smoke more!