7 Reasons To Take Fish Oil
On the technical side, fish oil contains the omega-3 fatty acids eicosopentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) that affect the synthesis of prostaglandins, which have a regulatory effect on the body. On the non-technical side, there is a lot of evidence that fish oil can do a lot of good things for your body, and it may be one of the most important supplements you can take for good health.
1. It Could Satisfy Your Craving For Fat
Julie Daniluk, R.H.N, says that taking 2 teaspoons of fish oil can help to satisfy cravings for fat within about 15 minutes. This is a great trick to try if you are craving fried or processed foods. The worst that can happen is that you get a dose of healthy fats.
2. It Can Help The Inflammation Of Arthritis
It has been shown that the fatty acids found in fish oil can help to reduce inflammation in the body, which can cause swelling and pain. Certain types of arthritis is associated with inflammation in the joints, including rheumatoid arthritis and gouty arthritis.
“A 2010 meta-analysis found that fish oil significantly decreased joint tenderness and stiffness in RA patients and reduced or eliminated NSAID use.” – Arthritis Foundation
3. It Could Help With Kidney Disease
One study done by the Mayo Clinic found that over two years, over 50 patients had better functioning kidneys when taking a fish oil supplement as opposed to the other half of the test subjects who were taking a placebo olive oil supplement.
4. It Could Help And Prevent Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a skin disease that results in redness, inflammation, and dry patches on the skin. There has been evidence that fish oil may be beneficial in both reducing inflammation in people with psoriasis as well as well as help with depression that some people with psoriasis deal with.
“Fish oil applied directly to the skin has also been known to work well for some.” – Healthline
5. It Can Help Against High Blood Pressure
There is a lot of research that shows fish oil may help reduce blood pressure. The effects of have not been huge; however, there has definitely been some signs of improvement in people who suffer from high blood pressure.
6. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Lupus in an autoimmune disease, and people with lupus can suffer through many different ailments due to the body’s attack on healthy organs and tissue. One of the main symptoms of lupus, is joint issues. Because fish oil can help to decrease the inflammation in the body, it has been recommended by experts that people with lupus eat more fatty fish.
However, when it comes to a supplement, the results are mixed, as they could interact with blood-thinners or Coumadin. If you have lupus, it is best to talk to your doctor before taking fish oil as a supplement.
7. Depression
There are a few promising studies that fish oil may help regulate mood and bring it back into balance. Researchers have found that getting enough sleep along with a higher consumption of omega-3’s are associated with lower levels of depression. In fact, a Norwegian study done of over 20,000 people found that people who took fish oil were 30 percent less likely to have symptoms of depression than people who did not take fish oil.