Do people really need to take “fish oil” supplements?

Fish oil is the fat or oil that is extracted from the tissue of a fish, and it usually comes from oily fish, other than the commonly known salmon there is also the mackerel, tuna, and herring. For the popular cod livers oil, it actually comes from the livers of other fish as advertised. Parents are keen to give their children this supplement for improved immunity as it protects one from acquiring a number of diseases.

Today, there’s an obsession with health and general wellbeing that has crept up on the modern society today. It does not matter your location. People are much more conscious about what they eat and how they treat their bodies. They are also very sensitive to weight, and overall health and their appearance. In a larger part, I believe we owe social media as one of the biggest influences to these changes. The picture-perfect Instagram bodies and success stories on Facebook about new ‘blessings’ have put people in motion as they try and achieve perfection.

Unhealthy as it is to compare yourselves to others, some people have taken on the comparisons in a positive way. Instead of wanting to be like others and creating unrealistic expectations for themselves, they have used friends, influencers and celebrities as their motivators to finally achieving lifelong dreams. Some have made subtle changes while others have been big to look and feel better. Apart from exercise, clean eating is part of the health overhaul.

This includes maintaining a diet that works for your individual lifestyle and getting more vitamins and supplements to strengthen your immunity as well. Supplements act as an additional option to gain the vitamins and minerals that are deficient in your body. Sometimes, they are taken to enhance the body through the benefits they provide. For example, clearer skin, stronger bones, fuller hair, and the likes. Fish oil is a favorite supplement because of its numerous benefits.

The benefit of the omega 3 fatty acids is found in fish oil. This is why people love to take the fish supplements. The oils are found in oily fish like salmon, halibut, sardines, and anchovies. However, the main omega 3 fatty acids to focus on are the EPA and DHA. The two play a positive role in your overall health. When they are made available, they embed themselves into the cell membranes such as the heart cells and help by supporting the cell membranes to stay flexible.

As more scientific research continues on these omega fatty acids, their popularity continues to rise. The proposed intake for oily fish is restricted to twice per week for a healthy adult. This comes down to 500 milligrams of EPA and DHA. Most people consume the fish supplements daily citing that it will increase their brain function and add on even more nutritional value.

For adults who have cardiovascular problems or who are at risk of cardiovascular issues, they are advised to talk to their doctors before increasing the EPA and DHA does above 500mg. However, it is important to note that there is research that supports the consumption of EPA and DHA may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Having fish for dinner is one way of getting the recommended 500mg but if you do not have it on your menu every week, supplements come in handy.

When purchasing a bottle of supplements, make sure to check the supplement facts on the bottle. Doctors recommend 1000-1200mg of omega 3 fatty acids. However, keep in mind that the EPA and DHA are the most important, and it is better to know how much of their contents are available. Approximately 30pc of the fish oil is made up of omega 3 fatty acids, and the remaining 70pc contains other fats and some unprocessed fish oil, which also contains some vitamin A and D for the users' benefit.