There are many health benefits of fish oil, but what about fish oil and arthritis?
Fish oil, which comes from the tissue of fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines, is one of the few dietary sources that contains a substantial amount of the omega-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). DHA and EPA are essential fatty acids (EFAs) that are critical for good health, but the body is not able to produce them and they must come from food or supplements. Many people are deficient in DHA and EPA.
Here are just some of the health benefits of fish oil:
* It reduces the risk for heart disease and heart attack.
* It improves blood vessel functioning.
* It reduces blood triglycerides.
* It increases HDL (good) cholesterol.
* It lowers blood pressure.
There's also strong evidence that fish oil may help in the treatment of ADHD and depression, may reduce the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease, may help prevent age-related macular degeneration (an eye disorder), and may reduce the risk for developing breast, colon and prostate cancer.
With regard to fish oil and arthritis, the DHA and EPA contained in fish oil is very effective at reducing inflammation, including inflammation in the joints. While there are over 100 forms of arthritis, and each form differs somewhat from the others, arthritis is generally a form of inflammation of the joints.
Most studies examining fish oil as a treatment for arthritis that have been conducted so far have focused on rheumatoid arthritis. A number of studies have found that fish oil helps reduce symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, including joint pain and morning stiffness. Some studies have found that people with rheumatoid arthritis who take fish oil may be able to lower or discontinue their use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Additional studies are currently being conducted to more firmly establish fish oil's role as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. Studies are also currently being conducted to determine fish oils's potential role as a treatment for other forms of arthritis as well.
Although eating fatty fish provides you with DHA and EPA, there's a growing concern that many types of fatty fish are contaminated with PCBs, mercury and other environmental toxins. There's also no way to be sure that the fish you're eating contains enough DHA and/or EPA to provide maximum health benefits. This is why many people are turning to fish oil supplements. A high quality fish oil supplement will be free of contaminants and contain a high concentration of DHA and EPA.
When it comes to purchasing a fish oil supplement, you need to be very selective in what brand you choose. Several brands have been found to contain PCBs, mercury, dioxins, arsenic and lead, and the oil in several brands has been found to be rancid. Also, many low quality fish oil supplements do not have anti-inflammatory properties. Only buy fish oil supplements from a trusted company that has a track record of producing high quality products and whose products are backed by solid clinical evidence supporting their efficacy and safety.
In conclusion, now that you're aware of the connection between fish oil and arthritis, you should strongly consider making fish oil supplements a regular part of your diet if you suffer from arthritis. In addition to potentially alleviating your arthritis, you'll experience the many other health benefits that fish oil supplements provide.
