What do you know about fish oil? Dr Graeme Close, nutrition consultant at Healthspan Elite, is here to tell you the facts…
The health-boosting properties of fish oil have been known and accepted for decades. In fact, during World War II the British Ministry of Food prescribed cod liver oil free of charge to prevent deficiency and disease. But, despite the many benefits there’s still a lot of people who don’t take note of the importance of this powerful fatty acid. Here are four things you should know…
You’re probably not eating enough
A recent small study that I conducted for the BBC series ‘Trust Me I’m A Doctor’ showed that as much as 80 percent of the general population had a low omega 3 index score. The omega 3 index measures the amount of omega 3 fats in our red blood cells and a low score indicates a low dietary intake of omega 3, and is associated with a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Not all fats are bad for you
In recent years fat has become somewhat of a dirty word which has encouraged many people to switch to low fat diets. While it’s true that diets rich in trans and some saturated fats are associated with an increased risk of high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart disease and a number of other chronic conditions, the opposite can be said for mono and poly-unsaturated fats. Omega 3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats which benefit numerous important functions; reducing inflammation, providing support for the brain and eyes, and supporting the cardiac system by reducing blood pressure and cholesterol. In fact, people with a high omega 3 index score are considered to have a lower risk of serious illness.
Fresh fish isn’t necessarily the best source
The omega 3 levels in fresh fish vary depending on a number of factors – for example salmon contains a much higher concentration of the beneficial fatty acids DHA and EPA when they’re spawning, but can be much lower at other times of the season. Moreover, farmed salmon has much lower omega 3 concentrations than wild salmon. A high quality omega 3 supplement such as Healthspan Elite’s High Strength Omega 3 provides a guaranteed beneficial level and is a good insurance policy to be taken alongside your normal dietary intake. I still emphasise that everyone should try to follow the current guidelines of eating fish two to three times per week with at least one of these serving being oily (mackerel, salmon, tuna steaks, herring etc.).
Omega 3 fatty acids may help you live longer
Given that omega 3 reduces the risk of many chronic diseases it stands to reason that eating oily fish will increase your chances of living longer. A study conducted by Harvard School of Public Health and the University of Washington set out to prove just that, using 16 years of data from 2,700 healthy adults. The study found that those with the highest levels of all three fatty acids were 27 percent less likely to die during the study and live as much as 2 years longer than those with the lowest levels.
Dr Graeme Close is an ambassador for Healthspan Elite, a supplier of high-quality vitamins and supplements for professional sport. For more information visit healthspanelite.co.uk
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