Fish Oil and Omega 3 Health Benefits

Currently, the FDA only recommends a relatively low dose of omega 3s for healthy Americans. However, the Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega 3s (GOED) is calling for a re-drafting of the guidelines to reflect “nutrient shortfalls in the diets of millions of Americans,” reported Nutra-IngredientsUSA.com in July. Currently, the FDA does not even recommend that people take omega 3 supplements to help fortify their cardiovascular health – a conventionally accepted benefit of omega 3 fatty acids – and does not allow that multivitamin/mineral supplements, including omega 3 fish oil, contribute to the treatment of chronic diseases.

Numerous health professionals have rallied to the cause of omega 3 fish oil, calling for a re-draft of the guidelines and declaring, in the case of Loren Israelson, the executive director of the United Natural Products Association (UNPA), that “such a conclusion is neither in the best interests of the health and well-being of Americans nor adequately representative of the existing data.”

If you are not currently taking an omega 3 fish oil supplement and you need some back-up before you disagree with the FDA, ask your family physician about the health benefits of omega 3 fish oil and get him or her to recommend a dosage for you.

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While it is certainly no secret that getting adequate amounts of omega 3 fatty acids can help improve the health of your body and your mind, new research indicates that along with heart health and chest pain prevention, a diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids could also lead to a lower likelihood of developing age-related hearing loss, decreased chances of developing endometriosis (a condition that causes pain, irregular bleeding and possibly infertility in women) and healthier respiratory systems in toddlers.

The news comes upon a review study of a number of other studies on the benefits of fish oil. Once all the data from multiple studies had been analyzed, the reviewers published their findings on trends and possible but as-yet not extensively studied benefits of getting more omega 3 fatty acids than are conventional in western diet.
To learn more about how to insure that you are getting enough omega 3 fatty acids in your diet, access http://www.omega-3.us.

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Recently there has been a lot of media coverage about cod liver oil and omega 3 fatty acids. Some manufacturers – of cod liver oil – are promoting cod liver oil over salmon oil because it contains vitamin D, which, like omega 3 fatty acids, fortifies the immune system and helps the body with healing.

Salmon oil is a great source for omega 3 fatty acids, but it is definitely lower in vitamin D than cod liver oil. However, studies that compared the two found that cod liver oil contains far less omega 3s, and may not provide enough omega 3s to fortify the immune system and keep the heart healthy.

While you certainly could just take both types of supplements, if you feel like you cannot handle that much fish, then remember that there are a number of other beneficial (and free) sources of vitamin D. You might decide to take a 15-minute walk in the sunshine after you pop your omega 3 fish oil capsule, for example, getting plenty of vitamin D for your entire day.

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