In recent years researchers have studied several health conditions in association with the consumption of fish oil in men and women. Fish oil benefits include the reduced risk of heart disease and diminished brain function.

Heart disease is the number one killer in the North America today. The North American diet contains several toxins that lead to heart disease and lacks key nutrients to prevent it. Millions of people who develop heart disease each year are either unaware of, or do not understand the benefits of fish oil.

Benefits include protecting the heart from many conditions that lead to eventual heart failure such as high blood pressure, high triglycerides and rapid heart rate. Many people think of heart disease as a condition that afflicts the elderly. However, men and woman past the age of thirty have already begun to develop artery plaque leading to heart disease. Approximately forty percent of all deaths result from heart disease. Those individuals who have past the age of fifty are at highest risk level.

Most people are under the impression that high cholesterol intake is the number one cause of hardening of the arteries leading to heart failure. The truth is that a diet high in saturated fat has a greater impact on raising blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels than eating a high cholesterol diet.

Researchers have found that in nations such as Greenland and Japan where a diet high in fish oil is consumed the risk of heart disease is low. Fish oil is high in EPA and DHA which are not readily available in plant sources of omega 3. They are known for their ability to reduce the risk of heart disease. Not only are these long chain fatty acids effective in reducing high cholesterol levels associated with heart disease but are effective in reducing heart threatening triglyceride levels. They are also effective at preventing blood clots which can cause a heart attack.

The latest research with omega 3 has to do with brain behavior and health. For decades it has been known that the brain consists of sixty percent fat and that omega 3 plays a critical role in nerve function and structural development. In the late nineties new research suggested that the lack of omega 3 from fish oil may have a negative influence on mood.

Studies have shown that nations that consume the highest amounts of fish oil have the lowest rates of depression. Fish oil has also be found to be protective against postpartum depression, seasonal affective disorder and bipolar disorder. A number of studies show that the consumption of fish oil supplements can help diminish anxiety and improve mood.

Other studies have found that it protects against mental decline. It is well known fact that North Americans consume too much omega 6 and not enough omega 3. One study showed that individuals with high omega 6 blood levels were at highest risk for mental decline. Those that had high omega 3 blood levels were protected against decline. Another study revealed that fish consumption once a week produced a sixty percent lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Children need adequate intake of omega 3. Learning and behavioral disorders are associated with lack of omega-3 fatty acids. Fortunately, it has been found that they respond well to fish oil. Studies have shown that disrupting and underachieving children improved dramatically after receiving fish oil supplementation.

Fish oil has some advantages over plant sources of omega 3 such as flax seed. Flax seed contains alpha-linolenic acid which the body converts into EPA and DHA. Unfortunately, many people's bodies have difficulty making the conversion. Omega 3 found in fish oil is also able to produce prostaglandins which are important in many body functions such as maintaining blood pressure, hormone production and kidney function.

Pharmaceutical grade fish oil is now available which is far superior to all previous fish oils. They contain a highly concentrated form of DHA, EPA omega 3 fats which are free from heavy metals like mercury and other harmful compounds. Be aware of companies that make the claim that their product is pharmaceutical grade without proof.

One way to be sure is if the label has USP printed on it. USP is one of the chief governing bodies which ensure products have been tested for quality and potency. If a product is not USP certified look for label information that proves that the product has been tested for quality and potency in a certified facility.