What does fish oil do for you maybe the most frequently asked health question in recent years. Look at any nutritional supplement aisle in a store and you will find dozens of fish oil products on the shelves. Millions of people are using them daily which is, of course, why stores carry them. Just recently, a study was released which showed that many customers are not sure why they were buying them.
As its name implies, fish oil comes from fish, but only specific kinds. Generally speaking a cold water, oily, predatory species will have more omega3 content than something like whitefish. For instance, if tuna or mackerel are for dinner, then you are getting your omega3s.
You are also getting the ocean pollutants that the tuna or mackerel have ingested along the way. These toxins could include mercury, lead, PCBs and the like. So, in order to benefit from the seafood, you have to have considerably more of it than most health professionals think is advisable. In fact, two servings a week should be your upper limit.
I think that now you see why supplements are so popular. There is no problem with this if you know what you are doing. Now, the question remains:
What does fish oil do for you?
There are eight omega3 fatty acids. The two most important ones are EPA and DHA. Other omega 3s like ALA are found in flax seed but the body has a difficult time using it directly.
What fish oil will do for you is help every organ in the body. All our cell membranes have them. DHA is a quick change artist, rapidly adapting to the fast action neuron cells of the brain and the quick response retinas of the eyes. Put another way, they help us to see and think. Your ability to read and understand this article comes from those omega 3s.
EPA is important for cell communication. Together, they reduce inflammation in the joints and heart.
This has not gone unnoticed by health professionals. Omega 3s are recommended by groups as diverse as the A.H.A. and the Alzheimer's Foundation. Just recently, China approved adding DHA to dairy products - a practice that has been established in Europe and the U.S. for years.
What does fish oil do? It helps men, women who are pregnant [the baby too], women who are not pregnant and every age group in the human family.
Where to find it.
There are a lot of bad supplements out there so here are a few tips. Most species have ocean pollutants in them. Get a product that is purified and can prove it. Some companies publish lab reports on their website. Next, the body prefers a little more DHA than EPA. Keep that in mind during your research.
Stay with the natural products. If it does not smell right or has chemical additives, do not buy it. Natural mixed tocopherols and rosemary extract are antioxidants and are necessary - especially if you take high doses. Earlier we touched on the question: what does fish oil do? There is much more additional and in depth information on my website.
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