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Fish oil as a dietary supplement - Unnecessary or healthy?

Fish oil as a dietary supplement - Unnecessary or healthy?

Posted on May 11, 2022 at 6:43 PM

For some, they are already part of the daily routine, others consider them ineffective. Fish oil in a capsule form is currently on everyone's lips in the truest sense of the word. The dietary supplement is available not only in pharmacies, but also in drugstores. The Omega 3 fatty acids contained are said to inhibit inflammation, promote muscle growth, counteract cardiovascular diseases and even prevent cancer. They are also considered to be particularly effective during the brain development of the child, which is why many women take them during pregnancy. But what is the truth about the small golden capsules and their benefits?

Supplementing fish oil is basically not a bad idea, because it cannot be produced by the body itself. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a polyunsaturated fatty acid is what the body needs to regulate a lot of important functions and processes in the body. It can only enter the body through fatty fish such as salmon or herring. Omega-3 fatty acids are also found in some plants such as rapeseed, walnut or flaxseed. Thus, it is necessary to take in the need for DHA through food. They have a positive effect on health and for instance lower the cholesterol level and reduce the risk of a couple of diseases such as high blood pressure or cardiovascular diseases.

Although this has been proven in a number of studies, researchers are not entirely agreed on whether it is absolutely necessary to supplement fish oil. In some studies, a positive effect on health could be observed, in others not. 

The requirement of omega-3 fatty acids in adults can be set at about 2 servings of fish per week. However, not all people like fish or prefer to maintain a vegan diet. Also, fish is increasingly enriched with mercury, which is very harmful to the body. With regard to the widely popular fish oil capsules from the drugstore, however, it can be summed up that it is not absolutely necessary to supplement these. Since research is divided and valid results are missing, which prove a clear benefit, it is not necessarily recommended to consume fish oil capsules. Anyone who is unsure whether the body is deficient in omega-3 fatty acids should first have a blood test done and then talk to his or her doctor, because as with any dietary supplement, overdosing is harmful!

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