Fish oil provides natural DHA/EHA nutrient

MANILA, Philippines - It’s 2011, a new year, and as they say a time for makeovers. So how do you boost the health of your skin to achieve that eye-catching radiant glow? Believe it or not, the secret lies in good ol’ fish — its natural, healthy oil to be exact.

Recent studies attest to the wonders that fish oil can do to overall health. The health benefits that fish oil provides have been linked to its natural intrinsic nutrient, Omega-3 Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)/Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) fatty acids. 

Fish oil is oil derived from the tissues of oily fish, but this oily fish does not actually produce DHA/EPA fatty acids, but instead accumulate them from consuming micro-algae that produce these fatty acids.

Studies revealed that this DHA/EPA nutrient is naturally needed by the body to absorb essential nutrients and expel unnecessary waste products.

Apart from this important function, DHA/EPA has now been discovered to provide numerous health benefits.

A 2005 study in the Journal of Lipid Research disclosed that EPA can help block the release of the UV-induced enzymes that eat away the collagen — a main protein of connective tissue that provides structure to the body and protects and supports the softer tissues and connects them with the skeleton — causing lines and sagging skin. 

EPA helps by regulating oil production to boost hydration and prevent acne, and by delaying the skin’s aging process to stave off wrinkles. Because EPA is both an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, it also protects against sun damage and help repair sun-damaged skin.

Dermatologists and skin experts also emphasized the importance of these fatty acids in fish oil. Consumption of fish oil has been found to improve the condition of poor and dry skin by making it shiny and glowing, as well as treating various skin problems like eczema, psoriasis, itching, redness of skin, skin lesions, and rashes.

Fish oil should be integrated in the daily diet to help gain such skin health benefits. This is because the body does not naturally produce these DHA/EPA nutrients. 

But it is important to keep in mind that not all fish are rich in DHA/EPA. Studies show that DHA/EPA-rich fatty fish are those that include deep-sea fish like mackerel, sardines, salmon, tuna and herring. Fish that are caught from shallow waters like rivers or lakes are not fatty, oily fish that contain a lot of DHA/EPA.

To fully benefit from the health benefits of fish oil, these fatty fish should not be fried but instead grilled or cooked as a soup-based dish like “sinigang” to preserve the DHA/EPA nutrients.

But with hectic schedule, poor dietary habits and low quality of food sources that people have today, experts recommend the consumption of nutritional dietary supplements, including fish oil supplements, which help fulfill the nutritional demand of all body organs.

There is Australian brand Cenovis Fish Oil, which contains essential DHA/EPA. Compared to other commercially available fish oil capsules that come from large fish like shark and seals, as well as cod liver oil, it comes from the wild — small DHA/EPA-rich fish like sardines, mackerel, and herring that have shorter life span, making them less exposed to water pollutants.

Compared with shallow water or farm-grown fish, small fish from the wild are deep-sea fish that have been found to be a rich source of essential DHA/EPA nutrients. 

Cenovis Fish Oil is also an all-natural fish supplement that is odorless and has no fishy aftertaste, which is important among consumers, as it was extracted from Peruvian waters, one of the cleanest seas in the world. 

The product also undergoes an eco-friendly production. After harvest, the small fish are brought to Norway which is known to be the best technologically in terms of extraction of fish oils. After the extraction process, the fish oil goes to the Philippines for repackaging.

One capsule of Cenovis Fish Oil a day, which should be taken along meals, ensures one of the recommended dietary allowance for DHA/EPA, which is 500 to 1,800 mg per day.

To fully benefit from the health benefits of Cenovis Fish Oil (available at P9.75 per capsule), it is recommended to gradually increase the dosage.