It seems like every time you hear the latest news you learn about some of the many benefits of fish oil. Unless you keep track on a regular basis you may not realize all of the ways fish oil benefits your body and general health. In this article you will learn what many of them are as I hope to provide some guidance in the numerous benefits of fish oil as well as any that should concern you.

With that in mind, before I tell you about the benefits of fish oil let me tell you about one big concern. Fish oil is derived from the fatty tissues of oily fish. Many of these same animals also accumulate toxic substances such as mercury, dioxins, and PCBs. For this reason the FDA recommends limiting consumption of certain species (mostly predatory species such as albacore tuna, shark and swordfish) due to the toxic contaminants that are found in these creatures.

The good news is that the toxic problem can be avoided by turning to a good fish oil supplement that uses molecular distillation to remove the toxins. Of course, as with any supplement, not all products are created equal (more on this later). Make sure to do your research on the ingredient and levels of purity in the products you purchase. Also make sure they molecular distillation to remove the toxins. While fish oil is packed with a variety of beneficial nutrients, the one that gets the most attention and the most credit for improved health is the omega-3 essential fatty acids. Many supplement products have "omega3" or "omega-3" in the name of the product to emphasize the point that their product contains omega-3 essential fatty acids.

In fact, you may be surprised to learn that more than 40% of the fatty acids in the brain are omega-3 fatty acids. The reason they are referred to as "essential" is because the body can not produce them and they are essential nutrients which must be obtained from the food we eat. Now you can see why fish was always considered "brain-food" as a child. However, to get your dietary needs met all you really need is the supplement from fish that high in omega-3 fatty acids.

Omega-3 fatty acids are needed for brain development. Studies also show that consuming omega-3 during pregnancy may protect babies against the development of allergies. In fact, the benefits of fish oil have been shown in studies to provide a protective effect against the symptoms of hay fever, sinus infections, asthma, food allergies and allergic skin conditions.

In adults omega-3 have been shown in studies to reduce inflammatory forms of arthritis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), enhances insulin secretion and help plays a protective role in diabetic neuropathy, and proven to be beneficial for the body's immune function.

Most health professionals believe that it is the anti-inflammatory properties of fish oil that enable it to provide so many health benefits. However, fish oil benefits people who are in perfect health as well as people who are ill. By consuming the right kinds of omega-3 even healthy people see improvements in concentration and memory, improvements in health of skin, nails and hair, improved vision, stronger immune system, and even help in lowering LDL cholesterol. The American Heart Association says "Omega-3 fatty acids benefit heart health. Whether you are in good shape, at risk, or suffering cardiovascular disease".

While most fish oil contains omega-3, supplements use oil from different species and different species have different levels of omega-3. If the supplement doesn't tell you what kind are used then you should find one that does. If the supplement lists multiple kinds and does not break it down into the percentage of each kind of species in their mixture, it should make you question how they insure consistent omega-3 content when several different species together.

Now that you are armed with this information it should be clear that there are many benefits of fish oil. Considering all of the ways fish oil benefits your body and general health, your next step is to learn more about what makes the best fish oil with consistent omega-3 content in supplement you can trust to be made of pure fish oil. As always, do your research and read the label. You can use Google to search for more articles on omega-3 fatty acids or you can check out my website on the subject and take advantage of my research.

W Petersen is a passionate advocate and researcher of the benefits of omega 3 fatty acids. He is a father of two children and a husband. Learn more about the benefits of fish oil at his website
http://www.omega-3-premium.com/

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