Sounds strange and gross at first right? Fish Oil. But this supplement is finally getting it's long overdue praise and recognition, and beginning to be accepted by mainstream America. Fish oil is actually derived from the fat of deep-sea, cold-water fish. Wait a minute, did I say "FAT"? So this stuff is some kind of oil from some fish and it's mostly FAT and it's supposed to be good for me?
Yes. There are many types of fat, but for the purpose of this article, let's just say there are two: good fat and bad fat. Bad fat is the kind you see on the back of that Twinkie package or potato chip bag that you're eating right now. But believe it or not, there is actually GOOD fat that your body needs and uses to keep your brain and heart healthy. Fish oil contains some of this good fat, known as Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids (EFA's). See, I told you, not only is this fat "good", but according to its title, it's even "essential".
The two types of EFA's in fish oil are EPA and DHA. These both have been shown to help maintain a healthy brain, nervous system, heart, joint flexibility, and eye health. Can't I get this stuff by eating real fish? Yes, Omega-3's are in a lot of the fish you would eat, but if you're like most Americans, you aren't getting NEARLY enough from your diet alone. I personally don't care for fish at all, but even those who do probably eat it less than once a week.
*UPDATE* (July 4, 2007) – The benefits of fish oil seem to just keep rolling in, one after the other. A new study has confirmed that high stress levels cause your body to store more fat. Therefore, lowering your stress levels will lead to shrinking fat deposits. What does this have to do with fish oil? When Swiss researchers fortified men’s diets with omega-3 fatty acids (those found in fish oil), their levels of cortisol (the body's stress hormone) remained unchanged during stress tests, while the placebo group’s cortisol rose by over 30 percent! – *END UPDATE*
*UPDATE* (August 9, 2007) – The never-ending list continues: Fish oil may help prevent eye disease and improve ADHD in children. – *END UPDATE*
When buying a fish oil supplement, there are a few things to remember. Make sure you choose a well known, reputable company. This isn't the time to skimp and get the cheapest most generic brand you can find. Fish oil supplements are most often taken in capsule form. Sometimes, the cheaper brands don't use a special coating that keeps you from experiencing the dreaded "fish burps". This doesn't take away from the nutritional value, but unless you want to go around smelling like you had dinner with a baby seal, then you might want to stick with a better brand. Also, in extreme cases, the cheaper brands may have higher levels of mercury which can be dangerous. Make sure you read the label and don't buy it unless they specifically address the mercury levels, such as "no mercury", "mercury levels well under recommended", etc.
I know people like specifics, and I always get the "what brand do you use?" question. You should search around and find what works for you as far as price, location, availability, etc., but just for the record, I use NOW Foods, Super EPA Double strength – 60 Softgels
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