Benefits of Fish Oil for Fitness and Health - Teen Fitness Tips for Women and Men Project

When the words ‘oils’ and ‘fats’ are mentioned, health-conscious individuals tend to become anxious about it. What they fail to realize is that there are good and bad fats. Complete abstemiousness from of oils and fats intake would result in detrimental effect on their health.

The Truth about Fish Oil

It is known as a fact that inherent fatty acids must always be included into our daily diet – avoiding them we get one step closer to our deaths. Essential fatty acids are divided into two families: omega-6 EFAs and omega-3 EFAs.

Notwithstanding the slight difference between these groups of fatty acids, 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 –  in fish oils and other foods.

Omega-6 vs. Omega-3

Physicians and scientists believe 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 it was mentioned above, omega-6 EFAs can be found in vegetable oils such as corn oil and soy oil, both rich in linoleic acid. On the other hand, marine plankton, walnut and flaxseed oils are believed to contain Omega-3 EF As. It should be noted that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are usually found in fatty fish and fish oils which contain fatty acids that have been observed to provide many benefits to the human body. In the early 1970’s, 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).

Furthermore, two essential fatty acids, such as EPA and DHA, are helpful in preventing atherosclerosis, heart attacks, depression and various forms of cancer as well. Fish oil supplemented food has also proven to be useful in treating illnesses like rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, Raynaud’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Making the Heart Healthier

The heart is inarguably considered to be 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 rich in fish oil.

In Athens, Greece, for instance, a study was made to demonstrate on the issue of 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 likelihood of blood vessel inflammation.

Fish to Become Thin

In Perth, Australia, a study had revealed that fish consumption can be used by people who suffer from hypertension and obesity. Researchers of the UWA (University of Western Australia) have also discovered that a weight-loss diet which includes a regular consumption of fish can be quite effective in reduction of blood pressure and improvement of 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 from one form of asthma or another at a certain point in their lives. As a result, it was discovered that reason for this is a regular diet of food with high linoleic acid content.

Consequently, researchers of UW (University of Wyoming) conducted a study by subjecting a number of children to a high-fish diet while others kept on 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.  Thus, the solution to the problem is to discuss with your nutritionist the right amount of fish intake for your age and health status.