Fish oils are extracted fats from fish, a concentrated solution of omega-3
EFAs. It is the best source of omega-3 EFAs. You could add more omega-3
EFAs to your diet in the form of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). The richest
plant sources of ALA are the leaves and seeds of the perilla plants common
in North America, Japan, Korea, China and Vietnam.
Green plants and algae also contain ALA as well as linseed oil. However,
fats or oil from fish is considered the most important dietary source of
omega-3 EFAs because it has concentrated amounts of the ALA derivatives EPA
and DHA. These two nutrients are found almost exclusively in seafood.
Eating fish on a regular basis has its own risk as you are can never be
sure if the fish you are eating has no toxins on it such as mercury and
PCBs. During the manufacture of fish oils, toxins are eliminated. The
supplements are meticulously purified to remove heavy metals such as
mercury, lead, PCBs and other toxins as well as to reduce the incidence of
rancidity and improve the taste and quality of the fish oil.
These makes fish oils as safe and effective food supplement. A 1-gram fish
oil capsule contains about 180 mg of EPA and 120 mg of DHA. An intake of
three 1-gram capsules would provide 0.9 gram (900 mg) of EPA and DHA. This
means it comply the daily dosage recommended by the American Heart
Association. However, you should always bear in mind that fish oil
supplements are basically dietary supplements, not drugs.
Studies shows that many people are getting too much of the wrong kinds of
fats found in animals (saturated fats) and vegetables (polyunsaturated
fats), and need the fish oil to “balance” the family of fat nutrients.
Intake of the wrong kinds of fats should be lowered to total 20 to 30
percent of daily calorie serving while fats found in the oils of certain
fish should be appreciably increased.
Fish oil prevents and/or alleviates heart disease, high blood pressure,
arthritis and migraine, headaches, may be protective against cancer, immune
deficiency diseases, kidney disease and others. Fish oils also have two
special nutrients that protect the heart and arteries, reduce pain,
inflammation and swelling, and protect cell membranes. Omega-3 EFAs found
in oily fishes are believed to be essential for the healthy development of
brain, retina, and nervous tissue among fetus and infant.
During pregnancy these fatty acids are transferred from the mother’s
tissues to the fetus. However, the FDA has strict guidelines on eating fish
during pregnancy because of the possibility of mercury or other toxic
substances that may contain in fishes and the best solution is to take fish
oil as food supplement
Over the past 30 years more than 7,000 scientific studies have provided
evidence supporting the effectiveness of fish oil and omega-3 EFAs in the
prevention and treatment of our most common diseases. Hundreds of clinical
trials support the efficacy of fish oil’s omega-3 essential fatty acids in
preventing, mitigating, and remedying an incredible range of health
conditions. Some scientific and medical communities however are resisting
to these facts and still support pharmacological treatment.
As a traditional dietary supplement that encourages good health, fish oil
is a preventive medicine but as a natural alternative to NSAIDs or
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and other pharmacological and medical
treatments, it is complementary medicine.
With all the undergoing studies to prove its affectivity, fish oil is on
the threshold of crossing over into traditional Western medicine.