Fish oil comes from fatty fish and can be obtained by eating the fish or taking fish oil supplements. This oil has been known to help with medical conditions, mainly related to the heart, and to reduce the risks of other health conditions, including heart disease and stroke. You can get fish oil from eating fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel or herring; or you can purchase fish oil supplements over-the-counter.
Why Is It So Healthy?
Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids docosahexaeonic acid, or DHA, and eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA. According to the Mayo Clinic, DHA and EPA taken in the form of fish oil supplements have many cardiovascular and circulatory benefits. They warn, however, that taking these supplements in large doses can cause an increased risk of bleeding.
Fish Oil and Heart Health
Fish oil has been shown to lower fats in the body called triglycerides. If left untreated, high triglycerides can lead to heart disease. According to MedlinePlus, doctors recommend lowering fat intake and being physically active to lower triglycerides naturally. The FDA has approved one particular prescription-only fish oil supplement for use in lowering triglyceride levels, called Lovaza. In healthy individuals, fish oil is used to prevent heart disease, and in people who have these conditions, it lowers the risk of death.
Additional Health Benefits
Ingesting fish oil regularly can help bring down high blood pressure by expanding blood vessels. Fish oil taken alone or in combination with the prescription medication Naprosyn, also known as naproxen, can help arthritis sufferers with morning stiffness.
Dosing and Preparation
Fish oil supplements used to treat specific conditions should be recommended by a physician, even when they are available to purchase overt-the-counter. The American Heart Association recommends eating fatty fish at least two times per week. The serving sizes should be 3.5 ounces cooked. The best fish sources of omega-3 fatty acids are salmon, mackerel, herring, lake trout, sardines and albacore tuna. Do not give children under the age of 18 fish oil supplements unless directed by a physician. Fish oil supplements, when taken at a high dose, can compromise the immune system and cause nausea, nose bleeds and increase low-density lipoprotein levels in some people. In addition, MedlinePlus warns that taking doses exceeding 3 grams may cause the blood to stop clotting.
Risks
According to the American Heart Association, the FDA suggests that pregnant women and children avoid eating fish that contain high levels of mercury such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish.
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