The use of fish oils as a supplement to lower your cholesterol is nothing new, in fact for those of you who are acutely aware of this fact you will probably not finish this article. But if you are just learning about your condition and want to understand just what the connection is between fish oils and your cholesterol (and this includes those of you that do not like fish), the answer may surprise you.
How many times as a kid you were told that fish is good brain food, well that is not an "old wives tale", and the consumption of fish is beneficial because deficiencies in omega 3 fats have been linked to depression, anxiety, mood swings, bipolar disorder, postpartum depression, Alzheimer's disease, ADHD and ADD. But what we are discussing today are the benefits fish oils have in the prevention of heart disease and what better way to accomplish this than to control your cholesterol levels. Let's spell out why fish is beneficial and why it is important in maintaining healthy cholesterol levels, first the Omega-3 fatty acids also known as "good fat" found in fish have been shown to lower triglycerides, which is a type of fat in the bloodstream and it raises HDL (good) cholesterol to thin the blood.
This keeps the blood flowing to and from the heart while maintaining your blood pressure and will prevent your blood from clotting. Fish is especially beneficial for those of you who have already had a heart attack; the consumption of fish in its recommended weekly allowance will reduce the risk of sudden death. Also note that fish contains about as much cholesterol as a piece of meat, but with the added advantage of having of being low in saturated fat, the "bad fat" that you need to avoid. But please remember, fatty fish is still fatty.While the omega-3 fatty acids have lots of benefits, they're also high in calories.You will gain weight if you over eat these fish. The recommended allowance is 8 ounces a week. Lastly, eating too much of some types of fish can carry other risks like mercury in some sea fish, like tuna while other fish like salmon can contain toxins like PCBs.
But there are dozens of varieties of fish out there, which is the most beneficial for me? The answer to that question can be found at several sources, however the most recommended are as follows:
? Mackerel
? Lake trout
? Herring
? Sardines
? Albacore tuna
? Salmon
? Halibut
The above contains the highest volume of the Omega-3 fatty acids needed to lower or maintain your cholesterol levels. Also note that 75% of the population, who do suffer from high cholesterol, do not have to worry about the cholesterol in fish, as their bodies will not absorb fish cholesterol. But for the 25% of the population whose body will absorb fish cholesterol, fish needs to be taken into account when working out your daily cholesterol dietary intake. So, for most high cholesterol sufferers, fish is safe, but for a large minority of cholesterol sufferers, fish intake needs to be monitored closely. Also, to achieve the maximum benefits of fish you need to prepare it by grilling, baking and steaming this retains the beneficial "good fat". Dropping fish into a deep fryer covered in beer batter will not benefit you; this will essentially fry away the fish oils needed to aid your body. The American Heart Association recommends eating fish, especially the fatty kind, at least twice a week.
But I don't like fish! Well there is alternative for those of you that do not like to eat fish. Omega-3 fish oil is available in as a supplement. Health experts and researchers believe that omega 3 fatty acids are the one essential nutrient most missing in our modern day diet. This deficiency is now believed to play a major role in why there is such rampant heart disease, cancers, and brain disorders. Studies have shown that many of these diseases and disorder can actually improve by taking omega-3. Fish oil supplements which are very high in omega 3 fats, can help those with heart disease, and also help protect those who don't, but might be susceptible to it down the line due to family history.
Fish oil supplements are available at any pharmacy and there are a variety of fish oil products out there. Some are simply labeled "Fish Oil" while others note "Omega-3". There are many over the counter products and there are more potent brands which require a prescription. What you should look for is the omega-3 fish oil supplement which contains fish oil from sardines and anchovies. Because anchovies and sardines have high omega-3 content, they also have high percentages of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Anchovies and sardines have a short lifecycle making them an ideal source of fish oil because they are less prone to accumulating environmental toxins that can be found in larger, longer-lived fish. Contaminants are generally extremely low in sardines and anchovies even before they go through an intense purification process. Stay away from products that does not specify what type of fish is used to extract the oils or products that use larger fish as they are more susceptible to having toxins and contaminants which cannot be completely distilled out. Do your research before buying.
The connection between fish oils and your cholesterol boils down to the fact that good heart health begins with healthy cholesterol. By maintaining a healthy cholesterol level you will greatly reduce the risk of heart disease. Consult your health care professional prior to beginning a dietary regimen that would include fish oil supplements. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not take a fish oil supplement. Whether fish oils is consumed as a meal or through supplements fish oils provides one of the best sources of natural nutrients to maintain a healthy cholesterol level which in turn will provide you with a healthy heart.
Ray Thompson is a health and wellness consultant who promotes life-changing alternatives to prescription medication. Visit the author's website: mopwaterenterpises.com mopwaterenterpises.com and get your FREE Report to learn more about natural supplements, antioxidants and how to achieve and maintain healthy cholesterol levels.
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