Health articles and experts are constantly praising fish oils and the benefits that they can provide to your body. However, why is there such a hype surrounding these oils and are they really as good for you as people claim? Omega-3 fatty acids are the oils found in oily fish, such as salmon or mackerel, as well as flax seeds, walnuts and canola oil. The highest concentration of the oils can be found in fish, but the other sources can provide healthy doses of these nutrients as well if you don’t eat fish. Nutritionists claim that omega-3 fatty acids are vital for your health, helping to keep your joints lubricated, your brain healthy and your heart working efficiently. There have been many studies into the effects of these oils on our health. More and more experts are recommending these oils to their patients in order to boost their health, but how healthy are they really? And what do we really know about the effects of essential oils on our health?
The American Heart Association advises that everyone should consume omega-3 fatty acids from fish or plant sources in order to protect their heart. Research shows that essential oils can help to decrease your risk of sudden death from heart disease, decrease the development of plaque formation on the heart, lower the risk of a blood clot, improve the health of your arteries and lower triglyceride levels in the blood, which is a type of cholesterol. Fish oils have also been proven to be helpful in preventing strokes, prostate cancer, colon cancer, high blood pressure and rheumatoid arthritis. In an interesting study recently carried out in England, pregnant women who consumed two to three servings of fish each week throughout their pregnancies gave birth to children with higher IQs than those who didn’t. There are numerous benefits to omega-3 oils, but there are also various different forms of this beneficial nutrient. The active forms found exclusively in fish are known as eicosapentaenoic or EPA, and docosahexaenoic acids (DHA). You can eat fresh or canned fish to get your dose of oils, as well as plant sources. Flax-seeds and flax-seed oil contain alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) which is converted in the liver into active EPA and DHA. Supplements are also an option if you’re struggling to get enough omega-3 oils from your diet alone.
There are risks to eating fish. Mercury levels in fish could be toxic to the nervous system, and may be especially harmful to children and babies. There are certain types of fish which may be best avoided in large quantities due to the levels of mercury they contain, such as king mackerel, tile-fish and shark. People who suffer from bleeding problems or blood thinning should also avoid fish oil, as it thins the blood further. Studies suggest that fish oil could elevate your cholesterol levels so you should check with your GP beforehand to ensure that it is safe for you to take. Fish oils can be hugely beneficial to your health, but in certain cases they may carry risks. The best advice from experts is to speak to your GP before you take supplements or increase your intake of fish oils to ensure that they’re safe for consumption. Once you’ve determined that they are safe for your diet, you can begin to add fish, nuts and seeds to your diet and begin enjoying the rewards to your health – namely better heart health, improved joints and overall wellbeing.