Eskimo Fish Oil
The health benefits of fish oil, more specifically omega-3s, have been shown shown in a number of studies, helping to cut the risk of hardening of the arteries, irregular heartbeat, heart attack, sudden cardiac death and even heart failure. And the link between Omega 3 and heart health is only the beginning of the many benefits of these good fats.
Doses of omega-3 fatty acids aren’t just good for helping the hearts of healthy people, these nutrients also have benefits for those who have existing heart disease according to new research based on several large studies that involved more than 40,000 subjects.
These findings, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, involved a review of four studies on omega-3 and heart disease prevention and have prompted experts to recommend omega-3 fatty acids be a part of all healthy diets.
Our bodies can’t make these omega-3 fatty acids on their own, so 500 milligrams a day of components EPA (eiosapentaenoic acid) plus DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is what’s recommended for healthy adults.
Anyone with heart disease or heart failure will want to double the amount to a range of 800 to 1,000 milligrams a day, as the study found this to offer a strong protective effect. Daily supplementation of DHA and EPA for these patients was found to bring a 30% reduction in terms of heart related death.
When it comes to heart failure, adding omega-3 supplements showed a definite preventive effect, reducing deaths in those with heart failure by 9%. Considering the grave prognosis often given these patients, this number is encouraging.
Omega-3 fatty acids work at the cell membrane level and may be what helps the electrical activity of the heart as well as improving muscle tone, stabilizing plaque, blood pressure and other things associated with a healthy heart. “If we translate this finding, it means that we only need to treat 56 patients for four years to prevent one death,” Lavie continues. “And we are talking about a very safe and relatively inexpensive therapy.”
The typical American diet has a ratio of bad to good fats of 20 to 1, that’s 1 omega-3 overwhelmed by many more of the more dangerous type of fatty acids.
Getting good fats from food is the best way to go as 90% of the nutrient (vs. 50% of the supplement form) is absorbed into the body. Natural sources of good fats include walnuts, canola oil, broccoli, cauliflower, kidney beans, spinach, grape leaves, cantaloupe, Chinese cabbage, flaxseed as well as fish like herring, mackerel, sturgeon and anchovies.
If you decide to use fish oil or other supplements to get the omega-3 you need, remember that these products aren’t as regulated as they might be, even in the U.S.
Beware “too good to be true” claims or research of dubious quality that isn’t printed in a respected journal. Don’t settle for anything less than quality manufacturing, reputable companies will trumpet this fact.
Know too that fish oil capsules are likely to contain the same contaminants as fresh fish, and have been known to leave you with an unpleasant odor to your body.
The link between Omega 3 and heart health seems to be getting stronger all the time, so have a look at your intake levels and make sure you are getting the health benefit of fish oils in your diet.
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