Discover Fish Oil Health Benefits
Have you read about this recently? In a recent article written by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, scientist discuss the fish oil health benefits for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and whether it is wiser to eat seafood or take a supplement. Some research groups recommend eating more seafood. Others recommend taking a supplement. A few recommend both.
For example, if you happen to be a pregnant woman, researchers have recommended that you eat two servings of low-mercury seafood per week and take a supplement that provides at least 500mg of DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) every day, as well as your regular pre-natal vitamin. That recommendation is made, because DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid found only in seafood and some types of marine algae, is essential for normal brain and eye development in the fetus.
If you do enjoy seafood, you should check out the consumption advisories published by the Environmental Defense Fund, the CDC and the EPA. Some species should be eaten no more than once per month. Some should be avoided entirely.
Women and children are most susceptible to the mercury and PCB content. But, men should be careful, too. Too many PCBs can increase the risk of cancer.
The fish oil health benefits cannot counteract the negative effects of consuming mercury or PCBs, but supplement manufacturers can have each batch of oils tested for those contaminants, insuring that none are present. It is not possible to test every piece of seafood for contaminants, because testing destroys the food.
So, when advisories are made, it is just a “guesstimate”. There is no way to be certain which species are safe and which are not. One serving could have two or three times the contaminants present in another.
The North Carolina researchers concluded that more research is needed to investigate the fish oil health benefits, the potential adverse effects of certain species and how cooking affects the nutritional value. If you read much of the scientific research, you will see that one of the most common conclusions is that more research is needed.
Continuing research is important in to arrive at specific dosage recommendations. It will also be necessary if US residents are ever to be aware of all of the fish oil health benefits. The FDA will not sign off on health claims associated with nutritional supplements, unless there is more research.
Preventing over-stated and unverifiable claims that could be misleading is an important job for the FDA. But, sometimes, they seem to overdo it. For example, the company that makes Nyquil added vitamin C to their cold relief formula, without first receiving approval from the FDA.
The FDA told them to change the formula, because there is no “proof” that vitamin C helps people recover from a cold more quickly. There is no proof that alcohol, which is the main ingredient in Nyquil, helps people recover from a cold, either. It just helps them sleep.
Laurel Cohen is a strong advocate of natural health in all its forms: skin care, supplementation, and farm fresh foods. She enjoys introducing people to the best natural products she can find and uses herself daily. Visit her site to learn about the omega 3 fish oils Laurel uses daily for optimal health. Article Source: