Barleans - Fish Oil Offers Strong Defense Against Ailments

Proponents of conventional and alternative medicines rarely agree on much, but when it comes to the health benefits attributed to consumption of Omega-3 fatty acids, the two come to a general consensus. Whether it be heart disease, breast cancer, prostate cancer, or diabetes, supplementing high-quality fish oil into your diet allows you to be pro-active in guarding yourself against a plethora of ailments.

Omega-3: Your Daily Rx
According to the Mayo Clinic, there has been conclusive evidence from a number of studies “supporting the intake of recommended amounts of DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid) in the form of dietary fish or fish oil supplements.” Fish oil is not the only source of nutrient-rich DHA and EPA. Flaxseed and flaxseed oil contain high levels of dietary fiber, including lignans, micronutrients, and alpha-Linolenic acid (ALA). ALA, specifically can be converted by the body into DHA and EPA omega-3 acids, which are a host to a number of health benefits, including regulation of blood-sugar levels, lowered cholesterol, and defense against prostate and breast cancers.

Recent analysis conducted by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle studied more than 35,000 women over a six-month period yielded results that are aligned with these findings. They found that women taking fish oil supplements were 32 percent less likely to contract invasive ductal carcinoma, the most common type of breast cancer.

A Balanced Diet for a Healthy Heart
When further examining the effects of omega-3 on the body, fish oil is positively correlated with cardiovascular diseases. It appears to decrease the risks of arrhythmia (irregular heart beat), stroke, and high blood pressure. Additionally, fish oil is known to lower the level of blood fat, triglyceride, and has a healthy effect on levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good” cholesterol. Mono and polyunsaturated fats found in fish oil and flax oil, can help lower our LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, a major culprit in heart disease, and improve overall health. Foods that contain these fats are packed with anti-oxidants, and these foods help the heart, joints, nerves, and bones, as well as promote healthy brain development and function.

Fish Oil Reduces Risk of Breast and Prostate Cancers
Fish oil supplements have been found to decrease a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer, according to a recent study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. Those who regularly used fish-oil supplements were one-third less likely to get breast cancer. The study polled more than 35,000 post-menopausal women ages 50 to 76. Researchers found that after controlling for other breast cancer risk factors - such as age, weight, alcohol consumption and physical fitness - the women were still at a lower risk of getting breast cancer in the six years after the study began if they took fish oil supplements.

The cancer-preventing effects of fish oil are not only limited to women. Studies done by Augestsson, et al. have observed more than 47,000 men within the span of twelve years. Their findings have concluded that “while fish consumption tended to reduce the overall prostate cancer risk, the most dramatic impact was on metastatic prostate cancer risk.” They observed that for each 500 mg increase in daily fish oil consumption, there was a 24 percent reduction for the risk of prostate cancer. Similar studies have yielded an inverse relationship between fish oil consumption and the development of prostate cancer.