Are you a fish lover? Do you consume fish regularly throughout the week? If you are shaking your head, dry-heaving, and answered “no,” You’re not alone. However, if you aren’t consuming fish all that often, you may not be getting adequate amounts of healthy fats in your diet. Even if you aren’t a fish lover and tend to avoid it like the plague, that doesn’t mean you can’t supplement with a fish oil product and help take in omega-3 fatty acids that have many health benefits.
In this article, we will look at exactly what fish oil is, who should take it, and four of the health benefits you can improve upon through its use.
What is Fish Oil?
Now, I know what you’re thinking. You’ve heard the horror stories of people who take fish oil supplements, and all you hear about is how disgusting the fish burps are. Well, don’t worry, as technological advances have been made to the encapsulation process, and many fish oil supplements possess a time-released gel-cap that slowly allows the fish oil to be released rather than an all-at-once release that can have you burping a fishy taste for hours.
All of that being said, what exactly is fish oil? Fish oil supplements are nothing more than the healthy fats and oils that are extracted from fish and put into a concentrated (generally) soft gel capsule.
While fish oil is made up of healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids, it also contains other helpful vitamins such as vitamin A and vitamin D. Additionally, when you look at fish oil supplements (such as the profile on the label), you may also see things called out on the label such as DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid).
DHA and EPA are long-chain omega-3 fatty acids that the body requires to help function and perform optimally while also aiding with the health benefits we will dive into shortly.
Who Can Take Fish Oil?
Fish oil is one of those supplements that can benefit individuals of all ages. Babies actually get a good amount of healthy omega-3 through their mother’s milk supply. Unfortunately, once the child is weaned off of his or her mother’s milk, they could become deficient if not provided enough foods containing healthy fats.
While most supplement manufacturers will have a warning on their label that their product should not be used by anyone under the age of 18, if done under a doctor’s supervision, a young child and even adolescent can safely use a fish oil supplement if they aren’t taking in enough healthy fats and omega fatty acids through their daily nutrition.
It should be noted that those who are allergic to fish or shellfish should probably stay away from using fish oil supplements unless recommended by your doctor – otherwise, a severe allergic reaction could occur.
Disclaimer: You should never use any supplements without first consulting with your doctor to ensure there will be no interaction with any medications you may be on or cause a reaction due to health conditions or allergies.
4 Health Benefits Associated with Fish Oil
Fish oil is loaded with tons of health benefits, and the four below tend to be the ones that cause people to want to start including a fish oil supplement into their regimen.
1. Heart Health
Does heart disease or heart issues run in your family? If so, this benefit should be a main focus of yours. While there is no 100% certainty that supplementing with fish oil can prevent heart disease, studies have shown that individuals who consume fish, fish oil, and/or omega fatty acids have a much lower risk of heart disease.
How does fish oil play a role in heart health? There are several ways, actually. Supplementing with fish oil can help reduce triglyceride levels by as much as 30%, improve HDL cholesterol levels (the good/healthy cholesterol), and lower LDL cholesterol levels (the bad/unhealthy cholesterol).
2. Brain Health
Your brain loves fat – more specifically, healthy fat. The brain itself is actually comprised of around 60% fat. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that in order for your brain to function and perform optimally, it demands healthy fats such as omega-3 fatty acids.
While the goal of pointing out the brain health benefits isn’t to make direct claims, it has been shown that those who wish to help prevent cognitive decline and help lower the risk of mental diseases and disorders can do so by supplementing with fish oil if they are not consuming enough healthy fats in their diet.
3. Inflammation
Whether you feel the effects or not, your body is constantly battling inflammation. Inflammation is your body’s way of dealing with damage, stress, illness, as well as injury. Your body is under attack from free radicals on a daily basis, which, if it isn’t taken care of, can increase inflammation and lead to joint health issues as well as an increase in illness.
Fish oil possesses natural anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce inflammation. That said, one of the most common issues people experience with inflammation is joint pain. Inflammation in the joint can also cause stiffness and lead to more severe issues such as arthritis. Those who utilize a fish oil supplement may find that they can decrease inflammatory joint pain as well as help minimize the symptoms commonly associated with arthritis.
4. Weight Loss
With more than 60% of adults being classified as overweight and more than 40% being classified as obese, many people are in search of a healthy and natural way to help improve their weight loss success. Enter fish oil.
Research has found that those who engage in aerobic activity, while also including fish oil supplements into their regimen, were able to improve body composition and lower their cardiovascular disease risk factors.
Additionally, in another study, researchers found that young adults who utilized fish oil were better able to boost weight loss.
All the Benefits Without Any Fishy Taste
No fish burps, no fishy aftertaste, no fillers, just an ultra-purified fish oil. That’s what you get with Simple Supplements Icelandic Omega3. Not only do you get a total of 1980mg of total omega-3 fatty acids, but Simple Supplements Icelandic Omega3 is also enhanced with natural Astaxanthin as well as Coenzyme Q10. These two ingredients help separate this product from all of the others out on the market.
The health benefits from the sea don’t merely end with fish oil itself. Astaxanthin, a carotenoid pigment that is common in fish such as salmon (and it’s what gives them their vibrant pink color), contains powerful antioxidants to help fight free radicals. It has also been shown to help improve skin health by maintaining moisture which keeps skin looking plump and healthy while also playing a role in preventing wrinkles. If you live an active lifestyle, astaxanthin can boost endurance during physical activity. Do you find your joints hurt? Astaxanthin can help reduce inflammation and minimize joint pain. Lastly, who wouldn’t want improved heart health? Astaxanthin supports heart health by supporting blood vessel health and potentially lowering the risk of heart disease.
Add all of that in with Coenzyme Q10’s ability to improve skin health, enhance exercise performance, and boost brain health, and you have yourself an incredibly powerful supplement to add to your regimen.
If you’re looking to support cognitive functioning, improve cardiovascular and cognitive health, and minimize harmful inflammation in the body, look no further than Simple Supplements Icelandic Omega3. All you need is a single serving per day, and you can find yourself with a laundry list of health benefits that you may not only see but feel. Grab a bottle today to help prevent a deficiency in healthy fatty acids.
