Cod liver oil and other varieties of fish oil contain two types of omega-3 fatty acids, ocosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, and eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA. Omega-3 fatty acids are unsaturated fats that your body requires to perform vital functions, including brain development. Omega-3 fatty acids also help reduce your risk for certain chronic diseases. Your body is unable to produce its own omega-3 fatty acids, so you must get them from the foods you eat or through supplements. Consult with your physician prior to taking any dietary supplements.
Limits Heart Disease Risk
Hypertriglyceridemia is a condition where your levels of triglycerides are especially high. Triglycerides are a type of blood lipid, or fat. Over time, high levels of triglycerides can cause cardiovascular disease, plaque buildup along your arterial walls, strokes, arrhythmia, or heart attacks. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), fish oil can reduce your triglyceride levels by up to 50 percent. To lower your triglycerides, the NIH recommends a daily dose of 1 to 4g of fish oil.
Improves Hypertension Levels
Cod-liver oil can help reduce hypertension, or high blood pressure, levels. Over time, the buildup of plaque along your arterial walls can narrow or restrict your arteries. This arterial restriction causes your heart to work harder to pump blood. It also increases the force of blood against your arterial walls. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil helps reduce that pressure by expanding blood vessels. In a meta-data review, a study of studies, published in the October 2007 issue of "Connecticut Medicine," Dr. Hagen Yang wrote that fish oil was especially helpful in lowering the blood pressure of hypertensive patients.
Reduces Inflammation
Cod-liver oil acts as an anti-inflammatory agent for people with rheumatoid arthritis. According to the Mayo Clinic, taking regular doses of fish oil has much the same effect as taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDS, reducing joint pain and muscle stiffness. The NIH reports that taking fish oil alone or with naprosyn, a type of NSAID, helps rheumatoid arthritis patients recover from morning stiffness more quickly. The NIH recommends taking 3.8g of fish oil daily to help with rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.
Aids in Weight Loss
There is some evidence that fish oil can help you in your weight loss goals. According to the NIH, taking a specific combination of fish oil supplements, one providing at least 260g of DHA and 60g of EPA, helps decrease your body fat, as long as you combine your fish oil supplements with regular exercise.
References
- Medline Plus: Fish Oil
- "Connecticut Medicine"; The Role of Fish Oil in Hypertension; Hagen Yang, M.D.; October 2007
- Mayo Clinic: Fish Oil
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