Fish oil, as the name suggests, is derived from the tissues of an oily fish. The oil derived from the liver and liver products of cod fish, though a type of fish oil only, is known as cod liver oil. Fish oil is said to form a part of a healthy diet, since it contains the Omega-3 Fatty Acids, namely Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) & Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA). Both of them have been accorded to have a number of health benefits. If taken in the right quantity, fish oil can lead to the following health benefits in an individual.
Health Benefits of Fish Oil
- Fish oil has been found to regulate the inflammatory cycle of the body. This helps in the prevention as well as alleviation of pain caused by conditions like arthritis, prostatitis, cystitis, etc
- Omega-3 fatty acids help in lowering of cholesterol, triglycerides, LDLs. At the same time, they increase HDL (good cholesterol).
- Omega-3 fatty acids are believed to break clots and thus, help in the prevention of clots and heart attack.
- Having fish oil leads to an improvement of memory, recall power, reasoning abilities and focus in adults.
- Fish oil helps fight depression, bipolar and psychosis and has been known to assuage symptoms associated with these medical conditions.
- Research and studies have shown that Omega-3 fatty acids help in the prevention of breast cancer, colon cancer and prostate cancer.
- There have been studies indicating that women, who took Omega-3 supplements during their pregnancy, had children with fewer allergy problems.
- Fish oil has also been found to aid in the brain and visual development of children.
- Fish oil is also beneficial for people suffering from eczema, IBD and macular degeneration.
