Overview

For generations, cod liver oil has been a standard preventive health supplement in many cultures.  Recent studies confirm that taking a fish oil supplement like cod liver oil provides a long list of benefits ranging from relieving depression to preventing diabetes.

What a Fish Oil Supplement Does:

The benefits of taking a fish oil supplement are derived from the high concentration of the essential omega 3 fatty acids found in fish oil.  Those essential fatty acids, notably EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid), are responsible for the healthy functioning of our brains and nervous systems.  Because our bodies only produce very small amounts of DHA and none of EPA, it’s essential to get those fatty acids through an outside source.  The single most concentrated source of omega 3 fatty acids is fatty cold water fish like salmon, cod, mackerel and herring.

The body uses omega 3 fatty acids to create new cells, particularly neural cells that are essential for the proper transmission of emotions, sensations and other messages to and from the brain.  When there is a lack of omega 3 EFA available, the body will substitute omega 6, another essential fatty acid found in grains and vegetable products.  Because the body is being forced to use a less than optimum material for the particular job, scientists speculate, the messages that are transmitted along the neural paths built of omega 6 often come through ‘scrambled’.

A shortage of omega 3 also affects other bodily systems, since omega 3 is one of the most basic building blocks of animal cells.  One of the most intriguing bits of information to come out of recent studies in the way the body stores and uses omega 3 and omega 6.  Despite the fact that omega 3 is the better building block for most cells, if there is far more omega 6 available than omega 3, the body will preferentially choose omega 6 rather than omega 3.  Because of this preferential choice, scientists have concluded that the balance of omega 3 and omega 6 rather than just the presence of omega 3 is the key ingredient in the body’s proper functioning.

Health Benefits of Taking A Fish Oil Supplement:

The many health benefits of taking a fish oil supplement are supported by a wide range of clinical trials and research.  Among the many benefits are:

• A fish oil supplement can help treat autoimmune inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.

• Taking a daily fish oil supplement can help reduce high blood pressure in people with diabetes.

• The omega 3 essential fatty acids in a daily fish oil supplement helps lessen the severity of depression.

• A daily fish oil supplement is helpful in treating schizophrenia and other brain disorders.

• Research and studies with promising preliminary results also suggest that a fish oil supplement can be beneficial in treating:

-         Crohn’s Disease

-         ADHD

-         Type II diabetes

-         Burns

-         Ulcerative colitis

-         Anorexia nervosa

-         Colorectal cancer

-         Osteoporosis

-         Macular degeneration

-         Obesity

Possible Side Effects of Taking A Fish Oil Supplement

The most common side effects of taking a fish oil supplement are loose stools, mild gastric discomfort and uncomfortable belching.

Summary

Because omega 3 is such a vital ingredient in our bodies’ health, the FDA recommends eating 3 or more servings of fish per week.  Unfortunately, the high levels of heavy metals like mercury that are often found in fish can make it dangerous to consume that much fresh fish.  A better solution is a daily fish oil supplement containing the natural esters extracted from fatty cold water fish.

Of all the fish oil supplement products we’ve reviewed, we’ve been most impressed with Xtend-Life Natural Products’ Omega 3/DHA Fish Oil Esters.  Xtend-Life Omega 3/DHA Fish Oil Esters are extracted from hoki, a fish that is naturally high in DHA, the most important of the omega 3 fatty acids.  They use only fish taken from the pristine seas around New Zealand, far from the sources of contaminants like mercury. Because the body must break down fish oil into its component esters before using it, Xtend-Life takes the extra step to distill the fish oil used in its fish oil supplement down to an ester to ensure the highest bioavailability possible.  We highly recommend daily treatment with a fish oil supplement like Xtend-Life’s Omega 3/DHA Fish Oil Esters as an important step in safeguarding your health.