The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oils (DHA and EPA) are crucial to balance the high levels of omega 6 fatty acids we get in today's diet. The ideal ratio should be 2-to-1, omega 6 to omega 3, but the average modern diet provides a 20 to 1 ratio. This leads to inflammation and many other effects, and asthma, autoimmune disease, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, obesity, irritable bowel, macular degeneration have all been shown to be worsened by this 3/6 imbalance. The omega-3 oils are also important components of many tissues especially brain.
Below is a very impressive list of just some of the benefits of fish oil, which is why almost everybody from conception should be taking fish oils, continuing right through life. Unfortunately it is difficult to consume enough fish to achieve the major benefits, and there is always the worry of pollutants such as mercury, PCB and insecticides which could undo much of the benefit. For this reason a high quality pure fish oil supplement is by far the safest and most likely to give benefit.
The benefits of fish oil are almost to numerous to list, but some of the important ones include:
1. ADHD and IQ in babies and children – pregnant women taking fish oil supplements have babies with better mental function. After birth a study from the University of South Australia showed that children treated with fish oil had reduced symptoms of ADHD, inattention, hyperactivity, restlessness and impossible behaviour.
2. Reduced anxiety. A study in Neuroscience sure that fish oils reversed all anxiety like and depression like behaviour changes induced in rats. While this is also been seen in humans, the purity of a rat study confirms the benefit to the brain of fish oils.
3. Arthritis – the anti-inflammatory action has been shown in many studies to improve arthritis, particularly rheumatoid.
4. Alzheimer's disease – the DHA in fish oil is crucial for the brain tissue, and fish oils have been shown to help function in patients whose minds are failing.
5. Cancer – fish oils have been found to help kill a variety of cancer cell lines, including colon, breast and prostate. While it's impossible to do a study excluding all other treatments, most cancer patients should be taking fish oils.
6. Depression – a recent fascinating study reviewed 26 papers where fish oil and depression were discussed. Over 150,000 participants were reviewed and those who had a high intake of fish oils had an almost 20% reduction in the incidence of depression.
7. Diabetes – studies in Brain Research have shown that fish oils reduce the risks of diabetic patients developing neurological problems, but the anti-inflammatory action might also reduce the development and worsening of type II diabetes.
8. Eye diseases – fish oils have been shown to reverse dry eye, cataracts and macular degeneration.
9. Cardiovascular disease – it has been known for a long time that fish oils are beneficial to patients with coronary artery disease, not just the development of the disease, but also reducing the risk of sudden death.
It is hard to understand why all doctors are not advising their patients to take fish oil supplements, probably because of the pollution (especially mercury) found in many of the supplements, or natural fish. However good quality fish oils which are pure are available, and my advice is for everybody to take them throughout life.
