4 Surprising Benefits of Fish Oil
Your healthcare practitioner has likely recommended that you include omega-3 fatty acids as part of your daily diet. Many people supplement their diet by taking fish oil or omega-3 supplements, commonly touted for supporting cardiovascular health and general wellness. However, taking an omega-3 supplement daily could have additional health benefits you may not be aware of.
- Musculoskeletal health
- Attention weekend athletes: You know that achy feeling you get the day after a hard workout? Omega-3s can help! Short-term DHA supplementation can help to reduce exercise-induced muscle soreness and stiffness,1 and high-EPA fish oil has been shown to aid in recovery following exercise-induced muscle damage.2
- Eye health
- Eyesight can degrade with age, but if you’re concerned about eye health, a daily dose of DHA could help. DHA is concentrated in the retina and may help maintain healthy eye function.3-4 In fact, DHA has been shown to be an especially important component of fetal nutrition for the development of young eyes and visual acuity in infants.5-6
- Cognitive function
- DHA is critical to your brain’s development and function. In fact, low maternal DHA has been linked to decreased brain neural development in offspring.7 But fatty acids are not just important at the onset of life. As we age, we’re more likely to have “senior moments,” or mild memory gaps. DHA/EPA supplementation has been linked to improved memory in adults with mild memory complaints8-10 as well as reduction in cognitive decline in healthy, aging populations.11
- Healthy mood
- Feeling good mentally is just as important as feeling good physically. Luckily, omega-3s, particularly EPA, can help to improve your mood, as well.12 In addition to vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA play a role in serotonin synthesis, release, and function in the brain.13 Working together, they can help to support brain function and mood.
- Need another reason to start supplementing? Emerging research points to omega-3 fatty acids having potential benefits for skin14 and hair.15 Either way, there’s no denying that an omega-3 supplement can be an important part of your daily regimen!
References:
- Corder KE et al. J Sports Sci Med. 2016;15(1):176-183.
- Jakeman JR et al. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2017;117(3):575-582.
- SanGiovanni JP et al. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2005;24(1):87-138.
- Cho E et al. Am J Clin Nutr. 2001;73(2):209-218.
- Cetin I et al. J Physiol. 2009;587(Pt 14):3441-3451.
- Innis SM et al. Am J Clin Nutr. 2008;87(3):548-557.
- Innis SM. Brain Res. 2008;1237:35-43.
- Yurko-Mauro K et al. PLoS One. 2015;10(3):e0120391.
- Lee LK et al. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2013;225(3):605-612.
- Cederholm T et al. Adv Nutr. 2013;4(6):672-676.
- Weiser M et al. Nutrients. 2016;8(2):99.
- Kidd PM. Altern Med Rev. 2007;12(3):215-217.
- Patrick R et al. FASEB Journal. 2015;29(6).
- Golandam K et al. Lipids Health Dis. 2012;11:165.
- Le Floc’h C et al. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2015;14(1):76-82.
Submitted by the Metagenics Marketing Team
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