Omega 3 Health Benefits - Fish Oil Health Benefits
Let's look at some of the benefits of fish oil:
Omega 3 - Brain Food
Ever wonder why DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) has been called the super food for the brain? DHA's benefits are particularly evident in the membranes of brain cells. Imagine your brain as a large clearinghouse of messages and signals which have to be transmitted to other parts of the body. DHA is substantially responsible for facilitating the communications function of the brain. DHA will help prevent the breakdown of brain cells, making communication and transmission of brain signals defective.
Omega 3 in Fetal Development
The benefits of fish oil for fetal development are crystal clear. We already know that DHA is abundantly found in mother's milk. We also know that DHA is the Omega-3 fatty acid that promotes the healthy development of vision, brain function and motor skills in young and growing children. The more a mother consumes good quality fish oil, the more she increases her child's chances to have healthy eyes and a properly functioning brain. Omega 3 fish oil for mom's should be molecularly distilled so as not to contain mercury.
When the baby does not receive adequate amounts of DHA, the child may have learning difficulties later in life. It could also put the child at risk for attention deficit disorder.
Chewable Omega 3 for Mental and Emotional Stability
A person's mental and emotional stability is often
said to be an offshoot of brain function. Omega-3 fatty acids
will improve brain function by facilitating
communications between nerve cells. Healthy brains mean healthy emotions
and better concentration and focus.
Research studies linking the deficiency of essential fatty acids and
Alzheimer's disease are known and have been cited frequently in medical
journals, although clinical studies are ongoing.
The Journal of Affective Disorder, a University of Sheffield publication, reported that subjects in trials who had sufficient amounts of fish oil were said to be less psychotic and less prone to depression.
Chewable Omega 3 in Joint and Bone Health
That Omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial for sufferers of arthritis, particularly rheumatoid arthritis is an established finding of many research studies. EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid) - a type of Omega-3 which is also as important as DHA is said to minimize the inflammation, pain and swelling associated with arthritis. Fish oil is also said to be beneficial in restoring or repairing damaged cartilage.
Benefits of Fish Oil Supplementation - Chewable Omega 3 for Kids
People with diets deficient in Omega-3 fatty acids can take omega 3 supplements. Fish oil supplementation is recommended for people suffering from cardiovascular disease. Fish oil can help reduce the amount of triglycerides in the body and can help lower blood pressure.
If you cannot eat fish at least twice a week and you've been told that you need to increase your intake of Omega-3 fatty acids, speak to your doctor about taking fish oil supplements. Make sure they are molecularly distilled, which assures that there is not any mercury in your supplement.
Omega-3: Human Brain Needs its Fair Share
Doctors are saying that we shouldn't wait until we're near retirement to start thinking about giving our brains a tune-up. At that age, it is possible that some of those brain cells may be on their "last legs", especially if we were negligent in nourishing our brains with an essential supplement such as Omega-3.
You might ask, but what does Omega-3 fatty acids exactly do for the brain? More and more studies seem to suggest that Omega-3 fatty acids - DHA and EPA in particular - may help improve learning and memory tasks and may help prevent the onset of brain disorders such as mood fluctuations, depression, dementia, schizophrenia and Alzheimer's.
DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) is brain food. Remember that the human brain is about 60% fat, but that fat has to be good fat. And not many of us can claim that the fats in our brain are just what the doctor ordered. The best way to turn that fat into good fat is to feed our brain with fish oils, ensuring that it gets its fair share of DHA. Our supply of DHA can be taken from fish oils, walnuts, and some fruits like the kiwi.
For brain function to be optimal, it needs two kinds of fatty acids: omega-6 (linoleic acid) and omega-3 (alpha-linoleic acid). They hold the brain's cell membranes together. But when Omega-6 fatty acids outnumber Omega-3 fatty acids, then problems could start brewing.
Cells will build what researchers call replacement fatty acids, but these replacement fatty acids could actually do more harm than good. People diagnosed with depression or attention deficit order have been found to have high levels of replacement fatty acids. One reason could be a diet that is too rich in bad fats.
Brain Synapses: Where the Action Is
Omega-3 fatty acids are particularly helpful in making
brain synapses stronger. A brain synapse is like a nerve center where
two neurons connect. Since the brain is one vast information-processing
unit, these synapses make it possible for messages to be passed from the
brain to the rest of the body and back to the brain. So when synapses
break down, neurons disconnect and messages can't be sent.
Omega-3 fatty acids help make brain synapses healthier. Dr.
Gómez-Pinilla, who works for the UCLA's Brain Research Institute, says
that key functions like learning and remembering happen in those points
where synapses connect neurons to each other. When the brain doesn't get
enough Omega-3, mental problems are bound to happen.
Since children who have been given more Omega-3 fatty acids performed better in school and exhibited superior learning skills, it is not a surprise why doctors are advising the public to "load up" on fish oils now, and not to wait until we reach our 40s, 50s and 60s. Experimental studies with children and Omega-3 have been conducted in countries like the UK, US, Australia, and Indonesia.
The ideal approach is to obtain Omega-3 fatty acids from natural foods, but many people don't like these foods very well so the next best alternative is to take a chewable Omega-3 supplement.
