Just about every one of us has heard about the healthful benefits of adding fish oil to your diet. Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids, which has been linked to positive effects in the human body. These benefits include lower blood pressure, lower triglycerides and overall cholesterol levels, and even the possibility of reducing the effects of certain types of cancers. The cancers in question include colon, breast, and prostate cancer.
Omega 3 fatty acids have been included in a multitude of medical studies as being very helpful in lowering the risk of heart disease. However, it only includes those individuals that have taken significant amounts of omega-3 over a long period of time. So, what quantity of omega-3 fatty acids are needed to provide an individual with exceptional results?
Perhaps there is no exact answer, however, we need to take a look at some variables before deciding on how much you need to ingest into your diet for them to become effective.
First of all, there’s the age factor. According to experts, “younger people need a higher dose of fish oil than older people.” Why? More than likely, it’s due to the fact that younger people have higher metabolisms and are more active. The fact that they are more active, leads to their bodies burning higher amounts of calories and fats. On the other hand, older people are typically less active, in turn, they don’t need quite as much fish oil to achieve the same benefits.
The second factor that plays a role in deciding on how much omega-3 fatty acids you need is the source, or quality, in which you are taking. Fish oil from its true source, like mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna, and salmon, may not be as effective as, say, a supplement. And if your source of the natural fish is not reliable, it may even cause more harm than good, especially if it’s contaminated with mercury. The source and quality of omega-3 fatty acids is very important.
Fish oil is readily available in capsule and liquid form, but then again, not all are created equal. It’s been scientifically proven that the quality and concentration of fish oil over the counter can vary greatly. When choosing a quality fish oil supplement, one should make sure that it’s at least health food store grade, and preferably pharmaceutical grade. The higher the quality, the less you should have to ingest to experience the real health benefits.
Your medical condition is the final factor to consider when deciding what dosage of fish oil you need. For example, if you have high cholesterol, are a high risk of heart disease or have high blood pressure, your doctor may prescribe a higher than normal dose for you. Remember, it’s up to your doctor to decide. As with any supplement, you should consult your physician, or medical professional first. It’s not advised to self prescribe more than is recommended on the label of any over-the-counter supplement.
So, what’s the general rule of thumb? The American Heart Association recommends consuming 1–3 grams per day of EPA and DHA. For certain medical conditions, however, higher doses of omega-3 products, up to 4 grams per day, can be used safely, and with good effect. Included the right amount of omega 3 fatty acids can be one of the smartest and most healthy things you ever do for yourself and your body.
TriVita’s Omega-3 supplement helps meet the American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines for omega-3 fatty acids. One daily dose of this supplement provides the amount of Omega-3 recommended by the AHA for healthy individuals, as well as for those who have heart disease or the risk of it.
You can find additional information on Omega Prime and all of the TriVita® nutritional products by going to my TriVita product site.
Jeffrey Sloe
Independent TriVita Business Owner – #12871028
440-725-3729
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The above information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.