The subject of Dietary Fish Oil may be the only place that nutritionists and other experts don’t butt heads. The recommendation of fish oil is generally safe for everyone, and an essential nutrient. Let’s start with a basic understanding of Omega 3 & 6 balance. A 1:1 Omega 3:6 ratio is important for keeping your bodies inflammation in check. Most Omega 6 oils can be found in “vegetable” oils (soybean, corn, peanut, sunflower – to only name a few), fake butter products, grain fed meats, and other modern food creations. Omega 3 fatty acids can be found in seafood, wild game, and wild vegetation. The modern America Diet is now approaching a 30:1 ratio of Omega 6:3! This is why we supplement with Omega 3 fish oil.
I mentioned earlier that this inbalance can lead to inflammation in the body. What does this mean? Well, it’s different for everyone – but it can lead to joint pain, increased muscle soreness, slower recovery from workouts, and increased allergy symptoms, to name a few. In addition to the anti-inflammatory affect, Fish Oil has many other benefits. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), the active ingredients in Fish Oil, play big roles in the formation of brain and retinal tissue. This means it’s especially important for pregnant women to take Fish Oil to provide this nutrient to their growing fetus. There’s also been some research suggesting DHA/EPA has some beneficial effect on the risk of various cancers, including prostate, breast, and colorectal. Suicidal depression and schizophrenia may also be linked with low levels of essential fatty acids like EPA and DHA. And finally, fish oil supplementation may even improve insulin sensitivity.
When shopping for Fish Oil, be sure to look at the label and get the most milligrams of EPA/DHA. Many brands fill their capsules with “other fish oil”, which isn’t of any benefit to you. Try Advocare’s Omegaplex which has 1000mg of EPA/DHA per serving. You can purchase this here.
