Believe it or not there is one food source that will improve your health dramatically.  This wonder food has the ability to:

Improve heart function (including those diagnosed with heart disease)

• Help arthritis sufferers
• Reduce depression
• Help improve effects of Attention Deficit Disorder and/or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD / ADHD)
• Regulate blood pressure
• Improve brain function
• Fight off certain types of cancer
• Lower cholesterol levels

Fish oil is the natural food source that can strengthen almost all body functions – thereby improving your quality of life.  Actually, it is the fish oil in oily fish that contains the essential nutrients the body needs.  Fish oil contains Omega 3 fatty acids, a type of unsaturated fat that is essential to the body, but cannot be produced on its own; therefore, we can only obtain these nutrients from food.  The three main types of Omega 3 fatty acids that are integral to the body’s metabolism are a-Linolenic Acid (ALA), Eicosapentaenoic Acid (ELA) and Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA).

Rich sources of Omega 3 include salmon, herring, cod, trout, halibut, sardines, tuna and mackerel among others.  The oilier the fish is, the more abundant it is in Omega 3 fatty acids.

Some of you may have been forced by your mothers or grandmothers to take that teaspoon of cod liver oil when you were younger because they insisted it was good for you.  It turns out, they were right.

Growing research from around the world concludes that regular consumption of fish oil provides many health benefits that could lesson or possibly the need for today’s common prescription drugs and in some cases even surgery.   The following are fish oil studies that have highlighted remarkable findings:

1. Fish oil improves liver function. A report published in the Annals of Surgery in 2009 highlighted the positive results of fish oil given to babies with liver damage.  A finding made by doctors at Children’s Hospital Boston, led by Dr. Mark Puder, helped save the lives of over 100 babies.  Dr. Puder and his team, discovered that the intravenous fluid (called total parenteral nutrition or TPN) commonly given to infants diagnosed with short bowel syndrome is what also caused damage to their livers.  While TPN fluids are necessary in order to give nourishment to keep these infants alive, prolonged usage results in cirrhosis of the liver.  TPN is made up of standard plant oils and although these plant oils are totally safe when ingested, if given taken intravenously, they could potentially be toxic to some.  When the plant oil fluids were replaced with fish oil in the IVs (called Omegaven), the results were astounding.  The livers recovered and the babies who were previously on a liver transplant list no longer needed transplants.  Today, this supplementation of fish oil is now available at 70 hospitals around the world.  Based on this research doctors from around the world foresee that fish oil supplementation may help adults suffering from liver damage. 
2. Fish oil can help with depression, ADD and ADHD. Findings from a study conducted in Norway suggest that regular consumption of fish oil can reduce the occurrence of depression.  The study conducted on 22,000 patients concluded that those who took cod liver oil (a source rich in Omega 3), were 30 per cent less likely to develop symptoms of depression compared to patients who did not include Omega 3 as part of their regimen.  Patients who were given cod liver oil for longer durations were less likely to experience high levels of depression.  Dr. Malcolm Peet, Professor of Psychiatry at Sheffield University in England, arranged a study in which 70 depressed patients who had seen no improvements after taking prescription drugs, would be given omega-3 fatty acids for their depression. After 12 weeks, 69 percent of the patients showed noticeable improvement compared with 25 percent given placebos.  A study conducted by the University of Adelaide in Australia took note of the effects of children aged seven to 12 who were diagnosed with ADHD. Some were given fish oil supplements while the others took a placebo.  After seven months, the children that took fish oil supplements exhibited improvements in their classes. These children were not as restless and their behaviors improved. The children in the placebo group were later switched to fish oil and their behaviors improved as well.  Long after the study was completed improvements were still noted. Experts believe that Omega 3 fish oil supplements could have long-term benefits on cognitive development. When the researchers compared their results to studies of other prescription drugs given to patients with cognitive and mental issues, they found that fish oils were more effective.
3. Fish oil improves cardiovascular health and cholesterol levels. More and more research from around the world concludes that consuming fish oil acids reduces the risk of heart disease.  In 2007, a study conducted in Japan revealed that men with problematic blood sugar levels and heart issues improved by implementing fish oil as part of their diet compared to those who did not.  The findings revealed that there was a considerable decrease in the thickness of the carotid arteries and an improvement in blood flow.  The American Heart Association recommends weekly consumption of fish or fish oil supplements due to the fact that they are rich source of Omega 3.   Experts agree that diets rich in Omega 3 fatty acids such as those found in fish oil, can help reduce triglycerides (bad cholesterol) and increase HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol).  Findings also suggest that fish oil may also have anticoagulating effects that can help prevent the blood from clotting in addition to lowering the body’s blood pressure.

Truth be told, our North American diet is fast becoming a silent killer.  The need to make fish oil a part of our daily regimen is now integral to our overall health and wellbeing.

Swallowing that teaspoon of slimy liquid can do your body a world of good after all.