Why Aren’t You Taking Fish Oils Yet?
The importance of fish oils for optimal health cannot be overstated. Not only do they keep general body inflammation down and digestion in check, but they can impact everything from city living and bone density to fat burning and brain power. All reasons to be sure you are getting enough each day.
The range of health benefits is expansive:
- Anti-inflammatory – useful for any inflammatory condition, such as arthritis, bursitis, tendonitis, cystitis
- Immune system support – useful in the prevention of allergies, hay fever, asthma
- Heart health – beneficial in hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke prevention
- Supports a healthy lipid profile (total cholesterol, LDLs, HDLs)
- Essential for a healthy pregnancy and for the healthy brain development of infants
- Brain wellness support – helpful in improving mental clarity, focus, symptoms of depression
- Beneficial in Type 2 Diabetes
- Supportive of skin health (acne, eczema, psoriasis)
- Instrumental for proper weight management
Research shows that fish oils can protect us from the adverse cardiac and lipid effects on the body that comes from air pollution, especially if you live in a highly polluted big city environment. After breathing pollutants, heart rate variability and lipid levels – two measures of heart health – showed little change in those who had eaten fish oil supplements for a month, according to a recent study.
The omega-3 fatty acids reduce the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis and cut the inflammatory process in half. In osteoarthritis, the pain and joint stiffness felt is a result of bones starting to come in contact with each other and the cartilage within the joints progressively being damaged. The synovial fluid that keeps the joints lubricated and cushioned is typically reduced as well. One of the simplest and most powerful steps to stop the progression of joint damage is adding animal-based omega-3 fats through daily supplementation.
But maybe the best news, especially for baby boomers looking for “fountain of youth” properties in their foods and supplements – there is growing evidence that suggests that omega-3 fatty acids could affect our telomeres, the DNA at the end of our chromosomes that can reduce the signs of aging. Coupled with helping improve fat burning, particularly abdominal fat, the risks for metabolic syndrome and heart disease are diminished too. And fish oils can also help gain and preserve lean muscle mass as well as improve bone mineral density.