Fish oil health benefits are all over the scientific literature. There seems to be little doubt that fatty fish should be a part of a healthy diet.
The average intake of EPA/DHA is 50-100mg per day. Leading medical organizations, such as the AHA (American Heart Association), are recommending an intake of a minimum of 500-1000mg per day. The upper limit is 3000mg per day.
Fish oil contains omega 3 fatty acids. The 2 most important ones to be aware of are EPA and DHA. Both of these are considered to be essential fatty acids because humans are unable to make these so they must be obtained from the diet.
Common Sources of EPA and DHA Omega 3 Fatty Acids
The most common sources of these fatty acids are:
salmon
bluefin tuna
anchovies
sardines
crustaceans including shrimp, scallops, mollusks
flax seed
pumpkin
hemp seeds
walnuts
Health Benefits of Omega 3 Fatty Acids
The health benefits obtained with a diet that is high in omega 3 fatty acids include:
lowers triglycerides which is important for heart health
normal growth and development in pregnant women and children
brain and cognitive function
increases HDL cholesterol
reduces LDL cholesterol
may lower blood pressure
important for vision and proper nerve function
Because you do not get enough from your diet, increasing your consumption of fatty fish is wise.
What about mercury found in most fatty fish?
It is known that fatty fish, including salmon has high levels of mercury.
Mercury toxicity in humans does exist.
Some healthcare providers question the safety of mercury fillings, mercury found in vaccinations, and mercury that is found in most fatty fish, especially salmon. In fact, women are strongly advised to avoid fatty fish during pregnancy.
The legal mercury limit is 1 part per million set by the Food and Drug Administration. But, the allowed level of mercury in the U.S. is double that of Canada (.5ppm), Europe (.5ppm), and Japan (.4ppm). It appears that other countries have more concern with mercury toxicity than our government.
In part, this is because the research around mercury is not definitive. However, some studies suggest it is a neurotoxin. Even the suggestion that this may be the case should cause concern and extreme caution around eating alot of fatty fish.
Because of your diet, you are probably getting too many omega 6's and not enough omega 3's. The balance is what is important.For information on
eating fat
in your diet to reduce omega 6's.
To get the well documented fish oil health benefits you must get more omega 3's in your diet. The highest source is found in fatty fish. Unfortunately, the levels of mercury in fatty fish continues to increase. A highly purified,
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For more information on fish oil health benefits and how to protect your loved ones, watch this video NOW.