Health Benefits of Fish Oil Pills

Health Benefits of Fish Oil Pills
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Fish oil pills are made from the same oil that you can get through eating fish, such as salmon, sardines, tuna or mackerel. These supplements may contain vitamin E to prevent the capsule from spoiling or they may be combined with other vitamins to increase the health benefits. These little oil capsules are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, which work to increase health in both healthy and chronically ill individuals.

Prevent Heart Disease

Heart disease is one of the biggest killers of both men and women, according to MayoClinic.com, and is responsible for 40 percent of the deaths in the United States. Heart disease occurs when the blood vessels are narrowed or blocked off. Complications caused by heart disease are stroke and heart attack. These complications can be prevented in people who have heart disease by taking fish oil supplements that contain both EPA and DHA. Individuals who have healthy hearts can use fish oil to continue promoting good heart health. Physicians recommend taking fish oil capsules that contain 0.3 to 0.6g of EPA and up to 3.7g of DHA, according to MedlinePlus.

Lower Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is a serious condition that causes congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease, brain damage and hypertensive heart disease, among other diseases. The high concentration of omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil pills works to help keep the blood pressure under control. You should also quit smoking, eat fiber-rich foods and maintain a healthy weight to keep blood pressure under control, while taking the fish oil supplements.

Lowering Triglycerides

Triglycerides are found in the blood and contain chemical fats that are located in foods and in the body. A normal level of triglycerides are needed in the body for certain functions, but too much can cause coronary heart disease. According to MedlinePlus, taking fish oil supplements can help lower triglyceride levels by 20 to 50 percent. FDA-approved fish oil supplement Lovaza, is currently marketed to be used specifically to lower triglycerides.

References

Article reviewed by Elizabeth Ahders Last updated on: Oct 19, 2010

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