For people who came to know the health benefits of fish oil, the next
question they ask is how much quantity does one take? Well, some would
recommend at least 3.5 grams a day while others suggest a mere 2.5 grams of
omega-3 fatty acids would be enough to get the whole health benefits of
fish oil. To be on the safe side, it would be better to consult your doctor
of nutritionist for the proper dosage of fish oil.
There are in fact a number of factors to consider. Take age for example. It
has been found out that the needs of younger people for essential fatty
acids are higher than the older folks. One of the possible reasons is the
fact that young people are more active which makes their needs for
essential fatty acids greater than old people who have gone on with their
retirements.
However, this should not be misunderstood that older people do not need
daily intake of fish oil. The dosage or amount only diminishes but the
importance of taking fish oil does not. Nothing can stress this more than
the studies that have been conducted in the past which shows that the
healthy essential fatty acids in fish oil help reduce and prevent the
inflammation of blood vessels which is linked to heart disease.
According to experts, the lack of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and the
docoxahexaenoic acid (DHA) can result to depression and heart disease. And
since EPA and DHA are the primary omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil the
significance of fish oil in one’s diet cannot and should not be undermined.
Plus, our body cannot produce essential fatty acids so our only hope to get
them is through an outside source. Only by eating fish rich in fats and oil
or taking those commercially available fish oil supplement capsules does
our body get the necessary supply of omega-3.
Probably one way of determining the amount of omega-3 you take also depends
on your intake amount of omega-6 fatty acids. You can find omega-6 acids
from common vegetable cooking oils like canola oil, soybean oil, corn oil
and sunflower oil. These are present in a lot of food available in the
supermarket, most especially the processed ones.
We need to balance the intake of omega-3 and omega-6 since the latter
compete for enzymes with the former. And too much omega-6 could result to
inflammation which can later affect the heart. The effects of omega-6
counters the benefits omega-3 gives the heart. According to some experts,
having a ratio of 2 to 1, omega-6 to omega-3, would be the best combination
to have. The ratio properly balances the effects of both essential fatty
acids.
Other doctors recommend taking only a minimal quantity of say 2.5 grams per
day or even lower depending on how much it will take to maintain your state
of health. Taking too much might result to bodily imbalance which can
become harmful to your overall health. However, if you have a certain
disease or existing condition like, your doctors might prescribe you a
stronger daily dosage of fish oil to help you cope and regain your health.
To sum up, the quantity of fish oil you should take depends on your state
of health, diet, age, among other factors. Consulting your doctors would be
the best move before starting on a daily intake of fish oil.
