Fish oil is a supplement you can take to treat a variety of health problems. Some take fish oil to reduce their risk of developing cardiovascular problems. Others utilize fish oil for psychiatric conditions or to reduce inflammation. Fish oil is generally safe at doses of 1,000 mg, but you should talk to your doctor before taking fish oil supplements.
What Does Fish Oil Contain?
Fish oil is extracted from certain kinds of fatty fish, such as salmon, sardines and herring. Most companies purify this oil through a distilling process so its main constituent is two different omega-3 fatty acids known as EPA and DHA, which stand for eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. Omega-3 fatty acids are fats cannot produce on its own but are essential for maintaining health.
Cardiovascular Effects
Taking 1,000 mg of fish oil each day reduces your risk of developing cardiovascular problems, including heart attack, angina and certain kinds of stroke. Fish oil protects your cardiovascular system in a number of ways. It prevents your blood from clotting, helping to keep your blood vessels from becoming blocked. Fish oil also lowers your blood pressure, reducing the strain on your heart and protecting your blood vessels from damage. In addition, fish oil reduces triglyceride levels in your blood, which lowers your risk of developing atherosclerosis.
Other Effects
Taking fish oil may also help lower the overall amount of inflammation in your body, because the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil have an anti-inflammatory effect. As a result, some people take fish oil to treat lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and other health problems due to inflammation. Omega-3 fatty acids are also important for brain function, causing some people to use fish oil for depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and other psychiatric conditions, though its effectiveness at relieving symptoms of these health problems is still under study at the time of publication.
Risks?
Fish oil has a strong taste, causing some to complain of nausea, burping and heartburn. The most serious risk associated with fish oil is bleeding, because EPA and DHA thin the blood. Although the levels of these two omega-3 fatty acids in 1,000 mg of fish oil each day is probably safe, you should talk to your doctor before taking fish oil supplements.
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