Benefits of Fish Oil

Video Transcript

"My name is Christine Marquette, and I'm a registered and licensed dietitian with Marquette Nutrition and Fitness. And I'm going to talk to you about the benefits of fish oil. Fish oil has many health benefits, and the primary reason is because fish oil is very high in a type of fat called Omega-3. Omega-3 fatty acids are actually three different separate types. And the two that occur highest in fish are EPA and DHA. Those two types of Omega-3 fats have many functions in the body. They're used primarily by your brain, and therefore have different affects all throughout your body. One of the biggest effects is as an anti-inflammatory. There have been some studies in using fish oil to reduce inflammation in people with rheumatoid arthritis for example. It also has been shown to significantly decrease levels of triglycerides. Triglycerides are a type of fat in the blood, somewhat similar to cholesterol, in that they can clog your arteries. And there is a very, very significant decreases, depending on the dosage of fish oil that is taken, in this type of fat. In addition, there is a modest benefit to blood pressure. Some studies have shown a decrease of blood pressure with taking fish oil. There are also some ongoing studies of cognitive function, as well, for example with memory. That's one of the studies that is being currently conducted. So there are actually quite a few benefits with fish oil. Some other studies are looking into the effects on depression, as well as carbohydrate cravings. One of the reasons again, is because of the fact that the brain uses Omega-3. It has a very, very large effect on your mood, and again how your brain actually functions. So for that reason, is being highly studied for things like depression, mood, cravings. So there's a wide potential for fish oil to be used for various other things. Right now it's primarily used for decreasing triglycerides and for reducing inflammation. So those are the primary benefits of fish oil."