The Benefits of Omega-3 Fish Oil

Why would I take fish oil? What are the benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids? Will my health improve if I take Omega-3 fatty acids? What is in fish oil supplements?

Omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids are extremely important for the human body to function. Omega-3 powers your body and brain, and leads to many health benefits. But it’s not all about good fat; Omega-3 also has vitamins A and D, which is why so many people take this “powerhouse” of a supplement. Here are the top benefits to taking Omega-3 supplements:

Omega-3s May Help Improve Sleep

Have you been struggling to get quality sleep? Omega-3 fatty acids may improve the quality of your sleep, while also helping you fall asleep faster, and better yet, having an improvement of your performance throughout the day. Good fats, like fish oil, fuel for your body by means of reducing what “weighs you down” and promotes the production of dopamine, which improves overall happiness and stability.

Omega-3s Can Help Fight Inflammation

Inflammation occurs when chemicals from the body's white blood cells are released into the blood or affected tissues to protect your body from foreign substances. This release of chemicals increases the blood flow to the area of injury or infection, and may result in swelling, redness, and warmth.

Fish oil can help reduce inflammation within your body, including inflammatory eicosanoids and inflammatory cytokines.You will see results over time. fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, and sardines are considered to be a part of an anti-inflammatory diet, which is why taking Omega-3 fatty acids can have such a powerful effect on inflammation.

Omega-3s Help Improve Your Sex Drive

Omega-3 fatty acids have been known to improve cardiovascular health and lower triglycerides. When this happens, dopamine production rises, reducing the risk of depression, but also improving one’s libido. Dopamine production has also been known to increase orgasm frequency and intensity.

Omega-3s Can Help Reduce Your Chances of Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease refers to conditions that involve narrowed or blocked blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack, chest pain, or stroke. Other heart conditions, such as those that affect your heart's muscle, valves or rhythm, also are considered forms of heart disease.

As previously stated, omega-3s have been known to lower triglycerides, which is a major contributing factor of cardiovascular disease. Omega-3s can also improve blood flow, which plays a huge role in your cardiovascular system’s overall health.

Omega-3s Can Help Reduce Your Chances of Metabolic Syndrome

According to the American Health Association (AHA), a doctor will often consider metabolic syndrome if a person has at least three of the following five symptoms:

  • Central, visceral, abdominal obesityWaist size of more than inches in
    • Waist size of more than 40 inches in men
    • Waist size of more than 35 inches in women
  • Fasting blood glucose levels of 100 mg/dL or above
  • Blood pressure of 130/85 mm/Hg or above
  • Blood triglycerides levels of 150 mg/dL or higher
  • High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels of 40 mg/dL or less for men and 50 mg/dL or less for women

Studies have shown that the addition of omega-3 fatty acids, however, seemed to mitigate these effects, reduce triglycerides and improve other cardiovascular risk factors.

Omega-3s Can Help Fight Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune disease is when your immune system mistakenly attacks your body when it shouldn’t. The immune system normally guards against bacteria and viruses. When it senses these foreign invaders, it sends out an army of T-cells to attack them.

Omega-3 fatty acids have been found to reverse the progression of a number of inflammatory diseases, from inflammatory bowel disease to diseases of the skin and joints, to other autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and lupus.

Omega-3s Can Help Reduce Fatty Liver

Fatty liver disease is caused by obesity, high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and high levels of fat, especially triglycerides, in your blood. Taking an omega-3 fatty acid supplement has been shown to reduce liver fat and inflammation in people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Omega-3s Can Help Improve Your Vision

According to a handful of studies, omega-3 fatty acids may help protect adult eyes from macular degeneration and dry eye syndrome. Essential fatty acids may also help proper drainage of intraocular fluid from the eye, which decreases the risk of high eye pressure and glaucoma.

Omega-3s May Help Improve Your Bones and Joints

Omega-3 fatty acids contain eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These acids benefit the body reducing inflammation in joints. EPA and DHA also limit the production of certain negative proteins that inhibit certain types of arthritis.

Omega-3s Can Help Promote Brain Health During Pregnancy

Supplementing fish oil during pregnancy can promote healthy brain development. Omega-3s are crucial for brain growth and development in infants. DHA accounts for 40% of the polyunsaturated fatty acids in your brain and 60% in the retina of your eye.

Omega-3s Can Help Alleviate Menstrual Cramping and Pain

Menstrual cramps are contractions in the uterus. If it contracts too strongly during your menstrual cycle, it can press against nearby blood vessels, which briefly cuts off the supply of oxygen to the uterus. The lack of oxygen causes pain and cramping.

Consider taking fish oil regularly to help relieve these cramps. Between the inflammatory reduction it has been proven to show, along with the increase in blood flow, you are less likely to have cramps.

It’s always important to remember that taking supplements will not give you an immediate change. Levels of Omega-3 fatty acids build up quickly in your body, but it’s all based on your own build. It can take anywhere from six weeks to six months to see the benefits of taking the supplement.

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