Fish and Good Health from Schmeg.com

   

More and more, we are hearing about the benefits of fish for your health. Since 2000, the American Heart Association (http://www.americanheart.org) has recommended eating fresh fish at least twice a week or taking a fish oil supplement daily to help prevent heart attacks & strokes.
The magic ingredient is something called an omega-3 fatty acid. It is found in all fish, but it is especially concentrated in fatty fish like salmon, tuna & halibut.

Researchers have studied the effects of omega-3s on the heart and blood vessels for more than 20 years and discovered that, besides preventing heart attacks, eating omega-3 fatty acid rich fish can lower blood pressure and cholesterol, prevent abnormal blood clotting, reduce arthritis pain and reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

Our bodies need fatty acids to function well. Omega-3s are called essential fatty acids because, like vitamins, the body does not produce them and they must be obtained from diet.

EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are omega-3s found only in fish. Another less-potent omega-3 fatty acid called ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) is found in canola, soy and other vegetable oils.

Don't confuse lenolenic acid (good for you) with linoleic acid (not good for you). Linoleic acid is an omega-6 fatty acid which the body turns into substances that have been linked to heart disease. I've noticed that some commercially available fish oil capsules contain these potentially damaging omega-6 fatty acids.

There have been concerns that some fish contain trace amounts of toxic substances such as mercury, PCBs, dioxin and other environmental contaminants, which, if consumed often, may be unhealthy for us.

Levels are generally higher in older, large predatory fish (not the ones I mentioned earlier). Generally, for women who are past menopause and for middle-aged or older men, the benefits of eating fish twice a week outweigh the risks.

Pregnant women and children probably should not consume large amounts of fish and, besides, they are at low risk for developing heart disease. Taking more than 3 grams of omega-3s a day may cause bleeding. If you take aspirin regularly or prescription medications that prevent clots from forming, talk with your doctor first.

I have heard about Icelandic Health Fish Oil. It is quite bit more expensive than regular Omega-3 capsules aqnd I can't find any advantage in them.

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