Embracing Fish Oil

Fish is not a staple of most North American diets, however it is becoming more ubiquitous as people realize the health benefits. Ideally you should be eating 2-3 servings of fish per week. Optimal health benefits come from cold water fatty fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines, trout etc) that is broiled or baked. Frying will decrease or destroy the essential fatty acids -good heart healthy fats, plus add to the bad, unhealthy fats.

The big deal about fish is the Oils: Essential Omega 3 Fatty Acids. These come from eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which are not readily found anywhere else (although DHA can be found in flaxseed).

The benefits of Omega 3’s are boundless. They have been shown to decrease inflammation; decrease blood triglycerides (bad fats); decrease the risk of heart disease and stroke; prevent macular degeneration and help with various neural functions. They may also help fight depression, ADHD, Alzheimer’s and much more.

If you don’t eat enough fish or maybe you just don’t like the taste, you can easily get these nutrients from Fish Oil supplements in the form of gel pills. Consider choosing a supplement low in mercury and other heavy metals and with an EPA/DHA of 300/200. A daily dose of 1000mg, 1-2 times a day taken with food is ideal.

For a very easy and small adjustment to your nutritional habits, you can reap great rewards – so embrace fish.