It seems that a lot of research and studies are showing how effective fish
oil is in helping improve our heart conditions. Studies in Denmark showed
that fish oil could reduce heart attacks by 50 %. While the Journal of
American Medical Association published a report from Harvard School of
Public Health that states that women who consume fish with higher Omega-3
fatty acid lessens their risk of incurring any heart disease.
These evidences show us how good Omega-3 fatty acid is to our body. This
would actually improve our life and lengthen our life span. High contents
of Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in fish like salmon, mackerel,
sardines, herring and anchovies. They have docosahexaenoic acid or DHA and
eicosapentaenoic acid or EPA which have anti-inflammatory and
anti-coagulant effects.
Omega-3 fatty acid belongs to the polyunsaturated fats, along with omega-6
fatty acid. Omega- 6 acid come mainly from vegetable oil. Omega-6 oils
can also provide the body with heart and health benefits, but too much is
also bad for the body. Omega-3 fatty acids do not only help in heart
issues, but also support brain development.
EPA and DHA are very important to our body. But the body does not produce
Omega-3 fatty acid. We have to get the nutrients from our food. Omega-3
acids are called or referred to as building blocks of the body. They help
the brain and vision development, not only for children but for adults as
well.
Italian researchers actually say that consuming about 1 gram of Omega-3 per
day would show significant effects on reducing heart attacks. A gram of
Omega-3 fatty acid can be present in a medium sized serving of salmon.
How do these acids exactly reduce heart attack risks?
They reduce triglyceride levels. Triglycerides come from fats of the food
that we eat and calories not digested. In excessive amount, tryglycerides
can cause coronary heart disease. They are just like cholesterol, they
block the arteries and these can lead to heart attacks.
Aside from that they can also stabilise irregular heart beat. It can lower
blood pressure and increase the level of good cholesterol. They also have
anti-inflammatory characteristics. They are also anti-coagulant which
means they make sure that they platelets do not stick together are clot.
These clotted platelets can also block the arteries and the blood flow. You
call this Thrombosis.
But according to a research led by Dr. Jochen Senges of the University of
Heidelberg, the risk for a second attack among patients who used
recommended medications compared with those who are using fish oil has no
significant difference. It just show how important it is to avoid getting
any heart attack in the first place.
You can take fish oil supplement or eat a lot of fatty fish but if you do
not combine them with a healthy heart diet, still it is going to be
useless. A healthy heart diet would include high fiber food like
vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans and nuts. Aside from eating fish,
eating good quality protein products like lean poultry, non-fat dairy, and
other products that does not contain saturated fat or trans fat.
Fish oil is not a magic pill which can transform you immediately into a
healthy person just by taking them. Being a healthy person does not only
require taking food supplements but also eating properly and healthily.
