Omega 3 Fish Oil: Why You Should Supplement Your Diet with the Best Fish Oil Capsules

Are you aware of the health benefits of omega 3 fish oil?

If you are, good for you. Unfortunately, many other people remain ignorant about just how vital omega 3's are in how well the body functions. As a result, all sorts of health problems arise, from a general lack of well-being to heart ailments to memory problems to arthritis to cancer. What's tragic is that all these problems can be avoided; we only need to know what our bodies need in order to stay healthy.

One such necessity is omega 3, a form of polyunsaturated fatty acids or essential fatty acids. These fatty acids are fats and oils that we need for health; however, the body cannot produce them on its own. Omega 3's come in more than just one form, though, and the two most powerful of these are eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA).

They are the good kind of fat, and not the type that health professionals tell us to avoid. On the contrary, doctors will tell you that omega 3 is one of the most powerful nutrients in existence and that you need to include foods rich in omega 3's in your diet. In addition to keeping cell membranes healthy, they also plays a very significant role in warding off various ailments and diseases.

Let's take a brief look at several disorders and other health conditions in which omega 3 fatty acids play a beneficial role.

Heart Diseases

Research has shown that omega 3's have a significant impact on coronary heart disease, one of the Western world's top killers. An important function of omega 3's is their role as an anticoagulant, meaning they prevent blood platelets from coagulating or clumping together and forming the blood clots that can result in heart attacks. The only time you wouldn't want your blood to stop clotting is if you are about to undergo surgery. Otherwise, blood clots are a health no-no.

Omega 3's also play a major role in how well blood flows to your heart and to other organs of your body. The build-up of plaque in arteries slows down the flow of blood to your vital organs, which can lead to coronary heart disease, cardiovascular disease, and peripheral artery disease. Inflammation is one of the factors that contribute to the build-up of plaque in the blood vessels; hence, the anti-inflammatory properties of omega 3's are helpful in this regard.

What are some of the other cardioprotective benefits of this essential fatty acid? For one, it helps prevent hypertension by reducing triglycerides, or the blood fats that affect cholesterol, by as much as 65%. For another, studies have shown that omega 3's strengthen the heart's electrical system, making it less susceptible to arrhythmia, or heartbeat abnormalities. Finally, by helping maintain the flexibility of arteries and lowering cholesterol levels, omega 3's can help improve angina.

Inflammatory Diseases

Arthritis, Crohn's disease, lupus, psoriasis -- these are a few of the most common diseases characterized by pain due to inflammation or swelling. Scientific data indicate that the swelling of joints go down in people with rheumatoid arthritis and that they experience less stiffness because of fish oil supplements. Moreover, these individuals may find themselves taking lower doses of anti-inflammatory medication.

Similar effects were found in a study of individuals with Crohn's disease, or painful inflammation of the bowels. The vast majority of the study's subjects who were given enteric-coated fish oil pills -- 69% -- remained free of symptoms while only 28% had the same experience with a placebo. Omega 3's lessen inflammation as well as heal the digestive tract.

Lupus, a chronic inflammatory disease, is not as common as arthritis or Crohn's disease. Nevertheless, it's a very serious ailment and many sufferers aren't even aware that they have it. Essential fatty acids like omega 3's can lessen inflammation in areas of the body affected by the disease, such as the kidneys, skin and joints.

Did you know that low levels of omega 3's are one of the characteristics of people suffering from the inflammatory skin disease psoriasis? By taking a fish oil supplement, they can inhibit the action of a substance called arachidonic acid, which our body produces and which promotes inflammation, thus controlling psoriasis outbreaks. Additionally, omega 3's have also been proven to relieve symptoms of eczema, another skin disorder.

Cancers

A number of studies indicate that omega 3's show great potential in combating cancer of the breast, prostate, ovaries, colon, and testicles. Though more research and clinical trials are needed to further explore and prove the cancer-fighting properties of these essential fatty acids, much of the results so far are very promising.

For example, in a study that analyzed the relationship between lower prostate cancer risk and EPA and DHA, the results supported evidence from experiments that dietary fish oils do reduce the risk of prostatic cancer. Research also shows that fish oil capsules are effective in treating a prostate enlargement problem called benign prostatic hyperplasia.

A preliminary study from the University of California, Los Angeles, suggests these essential fatty acids fight breast cancer and promote healthy breast tissue. Studies conducted on animals also show that a diet rich in fish oils resulted in the development of fewer breast tumors.

Prenatal/Postnatal Health

You may not realize it, but a large part of the human brain is composed of DHA, which is one of the most potent forms of omega 3's. Getting enough of these essential fatty acids is especially critical during pregnancy, to ensure that the brain of the child in the womb has the best chance to develop properly. The benefits don't stop in the womb for the child; research indicates that they continue by aiding in the infant's neurodevelopment during the neonatal period, or the first month after birth.

Even better news: did you know that omega 3's are associated with higher IQ's and reduced risk of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)? So if you are breastfeeding, you are passing on to your baby these benefits of the omega 3's in your own diet! Further, a preliminary study showed the potential of omega 3 fatty acids for the treatment of postpartum depression.

A side note, though an important one: pregnancy and neonatal health aren't the only women's health issues that fish oils have a positive impact on.

Omega 3 fatty acids also help relieve symptoms of menstrual disorders. In fact, a study conducted in Denmark found that women who consumed adequate amounts omega 3's suffered milder menstrual cramps than those who didn't. Another study involving teenage girls showed that those who were administered omega 3 fish oil supplements were able to reduce the amount of pain-killing drugs they use to ease menstrual cramping. Not so with those who weren't given the supplements.

Mental Health

Research continues regarding the correlation between mental health and omega 3 fatty acids. For example, it has been suggested by health experts that the the increase in the number of people suffering from depression in Western countries is related to their reduced consumption of fatty fish. A number of other studies focused on the benefits of fish oil on mental disorders.

For example, one study in France dealt with the beneficial role of dietary omega 3's in dyslexia and autism. Other studies and trials indicated omega 3's effectiveness in preventing stress, as well as their role in inhibiting psychiatric disorders like depression and dementia. Still another study suggested that these polyunsaturated fatty acids may lessen the severity of schizophrenia by approximately 25%.

Scientists agree that more research needs to be done to determine the direct impact of omega 3's on mental disorders such as major depression and bipolar disorder. Nevertheless, there is very strong evidence of their major role in alleviating neuropsychiatric disorders because of their involvement in the brain's biochemistry, functioning, and physiological structure.

These are only some of the health conditions in which omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids play a beneficial role. Studies have also shown them to help people improve their memory and focus, aid in preventing vision problems like age-related macular degeneration, and improve the insulin resistance of people suffering from type II diabetes.

Getting Your Essential Fatty Acids from an Omega 3 Fish Oil Supplement

DHA and EPA omega 3's are most abundant in cold-water fishes like hoki, salmon, trout, tuna and mackerel. The fish do not manufacture these essential fatty acids within their bodies themselves; they get them from the plankton they consume. Now, it's logical to think that you can get the omega 3's you need from fatty fishes. However, for some reason, even those who eat healthy food like fish regularly can still be nutritionally deficient. To make matters worse, some types of seafood may contain high levels of contaminants such as mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a group of toxic chemicals, because of water pollution.

Health experts say mercury levels in seafood is not a concern for most adults. However, they do caution women who are pregnant or who are planning on becoming pregnant about regularly eating fish that contain high levels of mercury. This is because mercury can amass in a person's bloodstream over time, and this can negatively affect the brain development of the fetus.

Even if you aren't pregnant, and whether you're male or female, you wouldn't want toxic chemicals entering your body through the food you eat, would you? If you knew that the fish and other seafood you are consuming comes from clean waters, then this wouldn't be a problem. Unfortunately, we can't tell for sure whether the fish we buy in the market lived in unpolluted waters.

This is where fish oil dietary supplements come in. A high-quality product will give you all the benefits of fish oil without you having to worry about its level of quality or if it contains any impurities. It should be something you have no qualms about taking, nor will you hesitate to give it to the members of your family. However, you shouldn't buy just any fish oil you can find in the supermarkets or health food stores, because again, you can't be sure about the quality of the source.

Advisory: Always consult your physician before taking any dietary supplements. Fish oil supplements are not advised for people who are taking anticoagulant medication, those who have suffered a hemorrhagic stroke, and those who are about to undergo a surgical procedure.

So, what qualities should a high-quality fish oil supplement have? Here are a few of them:

• It should have optimum concentrations of DHA and EPA.

• It should come from fish harvested from unpolluted waters.

• It should have undergone molecular distillation to remove all contaminants.

• It should be as fresh as possible.

• It should give great value for money.

There is at least one kind of omega 3 fish oil supplement that meets all these criteria and more, and it comes from an outstanding nutraceutical company in New Zealand called Xtend-Life Natural Products.

Pure, Powerful, Pocket-Friendly Fish Oil Supplements From New Zealand

There are numerous reasons why Xtend-Life's omega 3 fish oil supplements are the best of their kind. Here are just a few of them.

First, the company sources the oil from hoki fishes, which are part of a controlled sustainable fishery program in the cold, clean waters off the southern coast of New Zealand. That area is as pure as ocean waters can get since it's virtually untouched by industrial pollution. Moreover, strict controls and processes are followed in the harvesting and processing of the fish, and in the encapsulation of the fish oils. Because of these stringent protocols, the company's fish oil supplements are guaranteed to be free of mercury, PCB's, and other pollutants.

Second, the pharmaceutical grade and molecularly distilled oil is in ester form, which allows the product's active ingredients to be more easily and effectively absorbed by the body. In comparison, most other fish oils are in triglyceride form, which the body needs to transform into esters.

Third, the company takes great pains to ensure that only the freshest fish oil supplements are delivered to their customers. Some companies add artificial preservatives, which can degrade the quality of the oil. Other companies add flavoring to mask their products' lack of freshness. At Xtend-Life, no flavors or additives are included in the final product. To prevent the fish from decomposing, which fish can do very rapidly, they are blast frozen upon capture and are kept frozen until the oil is ready to be extracted.

Plus, after processing, each batch of the company's omega 3 fish oil supplements is subjected to comprehensive testing by independent government-certified laboratories to ensure their freshness. You'll get none of the fish oil side effects, like the unpleasant "fishy-tasting" burps that accompany fish oil supplements from other manufacturers.

Finally, the value for money is downright indisputable. You get all the protective and therapeutic health benefits of fish oil for less than USD20 a month! This just goes to show you that the most expensive brands aren't necessarily the best ones.

By just learning about the power of the omega 3's in nature-made fish oils, you've already taken a major step toward improving your health, and perhaps that of your family. Learn even more about them in the omega 3 fish oil supplements section of the Xtend-Life website. The information there will add to your knowledge about the numerous fish oil benefits, and hopefully help you make more informed decisions about the nutritional supplements you and your family need to live healthier, longer.