When it comes to nutrition, balance is a much overlooked element. If your cars steering system is out of alignment, it is a struggle to drive it and the tires will wear out prematurely. This is why we have to look at benefits versus side effects in nutrients. Likewise, with fish oil, it is important to know both so that we can maximize the benefits without driving the body off the road.
Billions of dollars are spent every year in the US alone on prescription drugs that are taken to thin the blood. Blood thinner, also called an anti-coagulant, is used to stop platelets that are present in plasma from forming clots. It is usually used by people who are at risk for heart attacks or strokes.
One reason that the law requires a doctors prescription for these drugs is the side effects. Depending on the drug, those could be stomach pain, excessive bleeding, muscle aches, dizziness, and headaches.
The most common non prescription blood thinner is aspirin. It too has side effects like heartburn, nausea or upset stomach. Some people are also allergic to aspirin and do not know it - they blame problems like hearing loss or difficulty breathing on other things.
One of the positive effects of fish oil is that it is a powerful natural blood thinner. One big difference is that it is food - not drugs. Taken in moderate doses of 2-3 grams per day should not cause any problems. Actually, the main thing that you have to worry about is its reaction with prescription drugs.
If you are already under a doctors care, make sure you discuss this or any other supplement with them. If possible, try to find some way to get fish oil into your diet.
A recent Harvard statistical analysis found that the sixth biggest killer in the US is there are not enough of the omega 3 fatty acids from fish oil in our diets. They used data from the National Health Center for Health Statistics and found that there were 72,000-96,000 preventable deaths each year due to omega 3 deficiencies. Tobacco, high blood pressure and obesity led the list.
In other words, one of the negative effects of fish oil is not taking enough of it.
A few other points.
1] The omega 3s mentioned in the Harvard study are found in lesser amounts in different types of nuts, dark greens and animals raised on grass [not grains].
2] The only realistic method of getting the levels of omega 3s that are necessary is with omega 3 supplements. Stay with the best companies. Investigate their websites. The better ones can demonstrate not only purity but freshness. A nasty side effect of fish oil from inferior products is spoilage. Don't just buy anything. Poor quality is, regrettably, too common.
Use my website to help your research.
Author Resource:
Get my free five-part mini course on the benefits of omega 3 for the whole family, including critical information on why you should take omega3 fish oil .
To sign up for the course and get more tips on the importance of omega 3, visit my website: http://www.omega-3-guide.com/
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/rss.jpg "XML Feed For RSS")