An essential daily supplement

I’m often asked which supplements I take daily. One of the most important supplements I take is fish oil – omega 3 fatty acids. This is so crucial to add to your diet because omega 3’s are an essential fatty acid – meaning your body does not produce it, but needs it to function properly.

You can get omega 3 fatty acids from fatty fish – tuna, salmon, mackerel, trout.. but most of us don’t get enough omega 3’s to support a healthy diet. A 3.5 ounce serving of fish gives us 1 gram of omega 3’s – however if you heat the fish, the omega 3’s deteriorate and won’t get digested by your body. This is why taking a fish oil supplement is a smart move.

Many of you know I was recently a pharmaceutical sales rep – I actually sold a drug that lowers cholesterol. Many times I would go to the doctor to sell the benefits of my drug, but they said their patient is now taking a fish oil supplement and they are ‘at goal’ for their triglyceride and cholesterol levels. A natural supplement got them to goal?? Let’s investigate some of the benefits of fish oil.

What are the health benefits of taking fish oil?

-Improves cardiovascular health – omega 3’s have been proven to lower cholesterol, triglycerides (fat in the blood), LDL (bad cholesterol), blood pressure, AND improve HDL (good cholesterol). (No wonder this was major competition for me with my cholesterol drug!)

-Increased weight loss and fat burning – studies have shown that fish oil helps with weight loss! Fish oil helps burn more fat while exercising rather than exercising alone.

-Increased brain function and focus – studies have been done that prove adults have better memory, recall, and focus while taking fish oil supplements.

-Cancer prevention – it has been shown that omega 3’s help prevent breast, colon, and prostate cancer. They do this by stopping the change of a normal cell to a cancerous mass, inhibiting unwanted cell growth, and causing cell death of cancerous cells.

-Joint pain relief – omega 3’s have a very positive response on your inflammatory system.  Doctors often recommend that patients with joint pain take fish oil as a supplement for pain relief.

-Improves skin health – fish oil improves the quality of dry skin by trapping in moisture. It is also effective for people with acne because the EPA is known to inhibit androgen formation.

-Improves hair care – omega 3’s nourish hair follicles and will prevent hair loss. Fish oil is also rich in protein, which will keep hair healthy.

These are just a few of the many health benefits of taking fish oil. I myself take GNC’s Triple Strength Fish Oil – it has 900 mg total of omega 3 fatty acids (647 mg EPA and 253 mg DHA).  Choose a supplement with at least 220 mg of DHA.  You’ll also want to choose a supplement that is mercury, lead, cadmium, and PCB free.  

Please leave any questions below!

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