There has been a lot of talk about fish oil. You may be wondering just what the fish oil effects are that make it so good. Here is a short list of fish oil effects, in no particular order, that you may find informative:
- It benefits the cardiovascular system. It has been shown in studies to lessen the chance of having a second heart attack. Another good thing it does is help lower cholesterol levels, also known as hypertriglyceridemia. It also lowers blood pressure by a few points. This blood-pressure lowering effect means that patients may be able to take less prescription medication for their hypertension, or even eliminate the need for it.
- Another of the more well-known fish oil effects is its positive impact on mood. Some studies have shown that fish oil can do a lot to relieve depression. Others have noted that people who have attempted suicide have very low levels of EPA – an Omega-3 fatty acid that is a major component of fish oil. This suggests that a deficiency in EPA has a lot to do with depression, so it stands to reason that increasing your intake of fish oil will improve your outlook due to the EPA it has in it.
- Other mental aspects of fish oil effects include the surprising ability to prevent the onset of schizophrenia. In one study, fish oil was given to a group of people who had already experienced brief hallucinations or delusions. This was a placebo-controlled study, so half of them got a placebo instead. In the fish oil group, only 3% of the people went on to develop full-blown schizophrenia. In the placebo group, though, 27% did. Judging by that, one of fish oil’s effects is definitely the maintenance of sanity! So if things have been getting a bit weirdon you, have some fish oil.
- Preliminary studies show that fish oil may also help protect the brain from Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s.
- Fish oil has also shown anti-cancer effects in some studies, showing good results against breast cancer and some others. While not recommended as a replacement to traditional therapies, it is expected to help. It may also help prevent cancer from occurring in the first place.
The reason for fish oil’s good effects on the brain and other body parts lies in the fact that cell membranes, especially brain cell membranes, need a high amount of Omega-3 fatty acids to work properly. Optimally, nerve membranes are made from Omega-3s. When there aren’t enough Omega-3s to do the job, the body has to resort to using Omega-6 acids instead. Omega-6es, however, result in brittle cell membranes with improper permeability. Over the years, this imbalance results in the cells not being able to do their jobs right. Since the brain is mostly nerve cells, mental instability and even insanity can eventually result.
By taking quality fish oil, which is very rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, you ensure that your brain and other body parts get enough for the cell membranes to grow properly. As your body rebuilds its cell membranes (an ongoing process throughout life), further damage is prevented and can even be reversed.
One of the keys to seeing the full fish oil effects is patience. For those used to the immediacy of prescription drugs, it is easy to make the mistake of thinking that the fish oil “isn’t working.” In reality it works quite well, but since it’s actually working with the body to actually FIX problems instead of just covering them up, it takes a while. Expect that it’ll take about 3 months before fish oil’s effects really kick in. That’s because it’s incorporated into cell membranes as they are regenerated, and this is done over time.
When enough of the cell membranes have been rebuilt with the proper amount of Omega-3s, you will start to see the full benefit of the fish oil effects.
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