Why would you spend money on omega-3 fish oil supplements?
Added 23.10.2008
We won't just give you one reason, but six reasons why omega-3 supplements are well worth buying.
What is omega-3?
Omega-3 oil consists of essential unsaturated fatty acids (good fat) found mainly in oily fish such as mackerel, salmon, trout, sardines, herring and tuna. They cannot be synthesised by the body and must be obtained from our diet. Omega-3 is vital as it plays a significant role in thousands of biochemical processes in our body. Increasing global pollution means that many fish contain large amounts of heavy metals and other toxins that are harmful to our health, which is why supplementation with pure, toxin-free omega-3 (such as in Doctor's Natural EPA/DHA supplement) is the best alternative to today's polluted fish. The most important ingredients in omega-3 are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).6 reasons why you should buy omega-3 fish oil supplements:
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Omega-3 is good for your heart According to the latest research, daily supplementation with omega-3 can lower your risk of cardiovascular disease in addition to improving your heart rhythms and reducing your risk of a second heart attack. One study shows that daily consumption of omega-3 supplements may reduce mortality and admission to hospital for cardiovascular reasons in people with heart failure (inability of the heart to pump enough blood throughout the body) by eight and nine percent respectively.
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Omega-3 improves mental performance Recent studies show that omega-3 fish oil not only enhances mental performance but also reduces the rate of age-related cognitive (mental function and processes) decline such as Alzheimer's disease, dementia and many other conditions. Scientists believe that DHA, one of the key ingredients in omega-3, prevents the build up or slows down the accumulation of a protein that has been linked to the brain injuries associated with Alzheimer's.
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Omega-3 improves mood and behavior A study published this year suggests that supplementation with omega-3 eases symptoms of depression. In fact, the study shows that daily supplementation with one gram of omega-3 fish oil reduces depression by 50 percent. In children, omega-3 improves behaviour and learning.
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Omega-3 prevents certain types of cancer Scientific research reveals that omega-3 may prevent certain types of cancer such as breast, prostate and colorectal cancer.
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Omega-3 is good for your eyes Taking omega-3 fish oil supplements can help you to maintain good eye health and prevent age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most common cause of vision impairment (limited visual capability resulting from disease, trauma or a congenital or degenerative condition) and blindness in people over the age of 60. One study found that daily consumption of omega-3 supplements reduced the risk of AMD by approximately 70 percent.
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Omega-3 is beneficial to expecting mothers and babies Studies show that increased intake of toxin-free omega-3 supplements by pregnant women results in babies with improved motor function (the ability to use and control muscles and movement). Babies were also shown to have improved visual, cognitive and motor development.
References:
O'keefe, J. H. & all. "Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Resting Heart Rate, Heart Rate Recovery After Exercise, and Heart Rate Variability in Men with Healed Myocardial Infarctions and Depression Ejection Fractions." American Journal of Cardiology. Issue 15, vol 97, pp 1127-1130. April 2006.
Stark, A. H. & all. "Update on alpha-linolenic acid." Nutrition Reviews. Volume 66, Issue 6, pp. 326-332. 2008.
Ma, Qui-Lan & all. "Omega-3 Fatty Acid Docosahexaenoic Acid Increases SorLA/LR11, a Sorting Protein with Reduced Expression in Sporadic Alzheimer's Disease (AD): Relevance to AD prevention." Journal of Neuroscience. Vol. 27, pp. 14299-14307. December, 2007.
Schaefer, E.J. & all. "Plasma Phosphatidylcholine Docosahexaenoic Acid Content and Risk of Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease." Archives of Neurology. Vol. 63. Pp. 1545-1550. 2006.
Feart, C. & all. "Plasma eicosapentaenoic acid is inversely associated with severity of depressive symptomatology in the elderly: data from the Bordeaux sample of the Three-City Study." American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Vol. 87, pp. 1156-1162. May 2008.
Jazayeri, S. & all. "Comparison of therapeutic effects of omega-3 fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid and fluoxetine, separately and in combination, in major depressive disorder." Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. Vol. 42, Issue 3. March 2008.
Augood, U. & all. "Oily fish consumption, dietary docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid intakes, and associations with neovascular age-related macular degeneration." American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Vol. 88, pp. 398-406. August 2008.
Jacobson, J.L. & all. "Beneficial effects of a Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid on Infant Development: Evidence from the Inuit of Arctic Quebec." Journal of pediatrics. Vol. 152, Issue 3, pp. 356-364. March 2008.
Stark, A. H. & all. "Update on alpha-linolenic acid." Nutrition Reviews. Volume 66, Issue 6, pp. 326-332. 2008.
Ma, Qui-Lan & all. "Omega-3 Fatty Acid Docosahexaenoic Acid Increases SorLA/LR11, a Sorting Protein with Reduced Expression in Sporadic Alzheimer's Disease (AD): Relevance to AD prevention." Journal of Neuroscience. Vol. 27, pp. 14299-14307. December, 2007.
Schaefer, E.J. & all. "Plasma Phosphatidylcholine Docosahexaenoic Acid Content and Risk of Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease." Archives of Neurology. Vol. 63. Pp. 1545-1550. 2006.
Feart, C. & all. "Plasma eicosapentaenoic acid is inversely associated with severity of depressive symptomatology in the elderly: data from the Bordeaux sample of the Three-City Study." American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Vol. 87, pp. 1156-1162. May 2008.
Jazayeri, S. & all. "Comparison of therapeutic effects of omega-3 fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid and fluoxetine, separately and in combination, in major depressive disorder." Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. Vol. 42, Issue 3. March 2008.
Augood, U. & all. "Oily fish consumption, dietary docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid intakes, and associations with neovascular age-related macular degeneration." American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Vol. 88, pp. 398-406. August 2008.
Jacobson, J.L. & all. "Beneficial effects of a Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid on Infant Development: Evidence from the Inuit of Arctic Quebec." Journal of pediatrics. Vol. 152, Issue 3, pp. 356-364. March 2008.
