When the words oils and
fats are mentioned, health-conscious individuals tend to run for cover. What
they fail to realize is that there are good fats and bad fats. Complete
avoidance of intake of oils and fats would be detrimental – rather than beneficial
– to their health.
The Truth about Fish Oil Essential fatty acids
must always be part of our daily diet – without them, we take one step closer
to our deaths. Essential fatty acids are divided into two families: omega-6
EFAs and omega-3 EFAS.
Although there are only
very slight differences to distinguish the two groups of essential fatty acids
from each other, studies have revealed that too much intake of omega-6 EFAs can
lead to inflammation, blood clotting and tumor growth. The good news, however,
is that the opposite is true for omega-3 EFAs. Omega-6 EFAs can be found in
vegetable oils while omega-3 EFAs can be found in fish oils among other foods.
Omega-6 vs. Omega-3 Physicians and
scientists agree that the cause behind increasing cases of heart disease,
hypertension or high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, premature aging and
certain kinds of cancer is none other than an imbalanced intake of omega-3 and
omega-6 EFAs.
As mentioned earlier on,
omega-6 EFAs can be found in vegetable oils. This includes but is not limited
to corn oil and soy oil, both of which contain high amounts of linoleic acid.
Omega-3 EFAs on the other hand can be found also in marine plankton and walnut
and flaxseed oils. It should be significant to take note that fatty fish and
fish oils contain eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA),
fatty acids that have been observed to provide many benefits to the human body.
In the early 1970s, a study on Greenland Eskimos have revealed that one of the
major reasons why they rarely suffer from heart diseases is because of their
high-fat diet (mainly composed of fish).
The two essential fatty
acids, EPA and DHA, are also helpful in preventing atherosclerosis, heart
attacks, depression and various forms of cancer. Fish oil supplemented food has
also proven to be useful in treating illnesses like rheumatoid arthritis,
diabetes, Raynaud’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Other Benefits of Fish
Oil There are a lot more
illnesses and situations in which the intake of fish oil has proven to be
significantly beneficial.
Making the Heart
Healthier The heart is inarguably
one of the most important parts of our body and having an unhealthy heart means
having to suffer a rather limited lifespan. Naturally, it’s in our best
interests to keep our hearts happy and healthy and one way of doing that is
eating food that contains fish oil.
In Athens, Greece, for
instance, a study was made to show if there was a direct relationship between
high fish diet and inflammation of blood vessels. The results revealed that
those who ate more fish than the others had a lower level of C-reactive protein
and interleukin-6, factors that are commonly used to measure the likelihood of
blood vessel inflammation. These benefits remained even when the various risks
associated with a high fish diet were taken into account.
Fish to Become Thin In Perth, Australia, a
study had revealed that fish consumption can be used against hypertension and
obesity. Researchers of the UWA (University of Western Australia) have
discovered that a weight-loss diet which includes a regular amount of fish
consumption can be quite effective in reducing blood pressure and improving
glucose tolerance.
Fish Oil to Combat
Asthma People suffering from
respiratory problems like asthma tend to be perceived as unfit and unhealthy.
They should now be pleased to learn that certain studies have revealed the
benefits of fish oil for asthma-burdened-individuals. Statistics show that
approximately 20 to 25% of children today suffer one form of asthma or another
at a certain point in their lives. And certain evidence reveals a regular diet
of food with high linoleic acid content as the reason behind it.
Researchers of UW
(University of Wyoming) conducted a study by subjecting several children to a
high-fish diet while others continued with their regular diet. Results revealed
that the participants who ate more fish were less prone to asthma attacks and
were able to breathe more easily as well.
Consult Your
Nutritionist Now Nothing is good when
consumed or used excessively but complete avoidance of a particular food type
is equally harmful as well. Ask your nutritionist for the right amount of fish
intake for your age and health status.