Dr. G’s Top 5 Reasons to Take Daily Fish Oil
Heart health, brain health, and more
Your body needs all nutrients in the proper amounts for optimal health and wellness.
But some nutrients stand out from the rest.
Like omega-3 fatty acids.
I prefer to obtain omega-3s through food sources like fish, but if you can’t get enough to adequately boost your blood levels, consider adding in a supplement.
One way or another, you need to make sure you’re getting enough. Here are five key reasons why:
First, they can protect your heart.
One study found that people taking omega-3 supplements every day had a lower risk of heart attack, dying from coronary heart disease, and dying from other cardiovascular diseases (compared to those on placebo).
The higher the dose, the greater the protection.
Studies have also found that people who eat more fish tend to have a reduced risk of heart disease.
Second, they can help protect your brain.
One study found that Alzheimer’s patients who were taking omega-3 supplements held steady on memory tests, while those not taking them saw a decline.
This indicates that omega-3s could help slow down the mental decline that’s part of Alzheimer’s disease.
They can reduce breast cancer risk.
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, breast cancer patients took either fish oil supplements or a placebo for two-four weeks prior to a lumpectomy or mastectomy.
The supplements changed the microbiome in both non-cancerous and malignant breast tissue. It increased a type of bacteria that’s been shown to decrease breast cancer tumor growth.
They can help treat ADHD.
For one study, children with ADHD were either given the omega-3 fatty acid EPA or a placebo for 12 weeks. Those who started out with low levels of EPA showed improvements in focused attention and vigilance scores.
Last but not least, they could help you live longer!
Having higher blood levels of omega-3s can increase your life expectancy by nearly five years. That makes getting plenty of omega-3s as good for longevity as quitting smoking.
Like I said, getting these nutrients through real food is ideal.
But if you can’t get your blood levels up into the normal range by food alone, consider adding in a supplement.
