Fish oil is a product that has gained much attention over the past few years. Those looking to each healthier tend to avoid foods that contain any type of oil but this is a product that contains healthy oils. Avoiding fat altogether in your diet is not entirely possible. What you can do is to balance your good fats and bad fats and consume more healthy foods in general. Eliminating oils and fats completely from your diet is not actually healthy at all and can have adverse effects on your health. When you watch your fat intake and ensure that you are consuming healthy fats, you not only give yourself a better chance of losing weight, you make yourself healthier at the same time.

Fish oil contains certain fatty acids that are crucial for good health. Fatty acids are categorized in two ways – Omega 6 fatty acids and Omega 3 fatty acids. There is only a slight difference in the two categories but studies have shown that consuming too much Omega 6 fatty acids can lead to health issues such as blood clots, tumor growth and inflammation of the muscles and tendons. Omega 6 fatty acids are those found in certain vegetables and vegetable oil. Omega 3 fatty acids, the acids found in fish however, are very good for you. They have the opposite effect of Omega 6 acids. Omega 3 fatty acids can reduce the possibility of blood clots, lower cholesterol, help to naturally fight infection and inflammation and provide a host of other health benefits.

Omega 6 EFAs (essential fatty acids) are primarily found in vegetable oils such as those from soybeans and corn. These oils also contain high levels of linoleic acids. Omega 3 EFAs however are found in marine plankton as well as flaxseed and walnut oils. These fatty acids contain eicosapentaenoic acids or EPAs as well as docosahexaenoic acids or DHAs. These acids have been proven to provide a number of health benefits. Studies have revealed that regularly consuming Omega 3 EFAs from fish oils can reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and a number of other serious medical conditions. The two acids found in Omega 3 EFAs can also help to prevent depression, cancer and atherosclerosis and have been shown effective in treating medical conditions such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis.

Studies conducted in Athens, Greece showed conclusively that a direct relationship exists between a diet high in fish oil and blood vessel health. The results showed that individuals who consumed diets high in fish oil products had a much lower level of C-reactive protein and interleukin-6. These factors are used to measure the likelihood of future blood vessel inflammation. Studies conducted in Perth, Australia showed that diets high in fish oil are effective in combating hypertension and obesity. Researchers discovered that a diet which includes a healthy amount of fish consumption is the best choice for those looking to lose weight and lower cholesterol and blood pressure.

Fish oil can also be effective in fighting asthma. Studies have shown that diets high in fish oil can be very effective in reducing the number of asthma attacks. Nearly 25 percent of all children today suffer from asthma and studies have shown that diets high in linoleic acid can contribute to asthma. Fish oil fights the cause of asthma and can effectively diminish the likelihood of future attacks. Studies done by the University of Wyoming showed that children eating diets high in fish oil are much less prone to asthma attacks than those who consumed regular diets. Those on a diet high in fish oil suffered less frequent and less severe asthma attacks and generally breathed easier than those on regular diets high in linoleic acids.

It is important to keep in mind that everything can be harmful if overdone. You should check with your doctor or nutritionist to see how much fish oil is considered beneficial for your specific age, weight and medical history. Your doctor can also further explain the benefits of adding fish oil to your daily diet and which foods are best to get the maximum amount of Omega 3 EFAs into your system each day.

Gerrid has written this article for Nutrisystem, A balanced approach to eating and losing weight that helps you learn healthy habits for life. 2013 coupon codes from Nutrisystem is available on Shop By Diet’s Website.