There are few nutritional supplements or nutraceuticals which are as effective at supplying the various forms of fatty acids necessary for adequate human nutrition than the various forms of fish oil that are available.
While the sources of this oil can vary, any fish that has adequately oily tissue can produce a oil high in omega-3 fatty acids, though its concentrations can vary measurably from species to species. The amount of fatty acids found in a given type of fish is largely dependent upon their diet, as no type of fish is actually able to produce the substance on its own; it is acquired and built up in their bodies through the eating of smaller fish which accumulate omega-3 through the eating of various forms of microalgae. Because of this, the types of fish which are most commonly used for the purpose of supplemental oil extraction are closer to the top of the food chain than the bottom, and generally fairly large as well. Some examples are tuna, salmon, mackerel, trout, and flounder. Interestingly, the ratio of fatty acids to the volume of oil varies across not only species, but geographic locations of the same fish.
There are a plethora of studies which show in no uncertain terms that the health benefits of fish oil are extremely varied and indeed quite effective as well. What is probably the most commonly sought after of all health benefits of omega-3 fatty acid is the lowering of cholesterol, and in fact the American Heart Association has officially recommended that even people without a predisposition to heart or coronary disease should have at least two servings of oily fish as a preventative measure. Those who do have a history of such illnesses in the family are encouraged to actually take the extracted oil supplement for a more concentrated dose.
Other benefits may not be quite so obvious. In fact, multiple recent studies have shown that regularly adding foods or dietary supplements high in omega-3 actually reduce the risk of depression, and even suicide in people with more severe forms of the mental illness. There was even a study conducted on English prisoners which showed quite conclusively that after the addition of seafood to the diets of the incarcerated population significantly reduced the incidences of assault within the facility. Many systems of brain function have been shown to be protected and enhanced by this dietary aid; Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s have both been shown to be controlled with this simple addition to diet in other mammals such as mice.
Whether you are looking for lowered cholesterol, overall cardiovascular improvement, or preventative measures to take for protection of proper brain function, supplemental fish oil will not disappoint.
