Protect yourself against heart failure with fish oil
Added 04.05.2009
You may be able to lower your risk of heart failure by up to 33% if you consume omega-3 rich fish oil, says a new study published in the European Heart Journal.
Heart failure, a huge global health problem.
Millions of people around the world suffer from heart failure, a condition characterised by the heart's inability to pump sufficient blood to other organs. According to the American Heart Association, heart failure can be caused by: narrowing of the arteries; previous heart attacks; high blood pressure; heart valve disease; congenital heart defects; and infection of the heart valves and/or the heart muscle.Heart failure, if mild, can be managed through lifestyle changes and prescription drugs but the latter often have unpleasant side effects. In the worst case, a heart transplant may be necessary.
The Scientific Study
Background information39,367 male participants aged 45 to 79 were followed between 1998 and 2004, closely monitoring health indicators and what they ate.
Results
The researchers found that the participants who consumed fatty fish (salmon, trout, mackerel, herring etc.) once a week had a 12% reduced risk of developing heart failure compared to participants who never ate fatty fish. Also, the study confirmed that those who ate about 0.36 grams of omega-3 fish oil daily had a 33% lowered risk of developing heart failure.
Omega-3 fish oil supplements or fatty fish?
Eating a varied, balanced diet that includes fatty fish is highly recommended as part of a healthy lifestyle. The problem is increasing global pollution means that fish today may contain large amounts of heavy metals and other toxins such as mercury that are potentially very harmful to our health. To get enough amounts of omega-3 fish oil that includes eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), supplementation with pure, toxin-free omega-3 (such as in Doctor's Natural EPA/DHA) is a better alternative to today's polluted fish. Two capsules of Doctor's Natural EPA/DHA contains even more omega-3 fatty acids than what was used in the study, which lowered risk of developing heart failure by 33%.By taking omega-3 fish oils supplements, not only will you promote good heart health, but also combat inflammation, improve your brain function, reduce your risk of depression, treat skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis and prevent some forms of cancer.
References:
American Heart Association
Dr. Bo Nielsen's comments:
Adding a fish oil supplement to your daily supplements has been known for years to benefit your health. This new study even reveals that a very unpleasant medical condition that can't be cured with traditional medicine can in many cases be prevented by simple taking two, high quality fish oil capsules a day. This is a very simple and inexpensive way of reducing a medical problem that lowers quality of life and may end in premature death for millions of people. Make sure your supplements are high quality, stripped from heavy metals and include vitamin E in order to prevent the fish oil from oxidising and becoming unhealthy.
