What benefits fish oil brings to the body

MANILA, Philippines -  Eating oily food is usually avoided especially by those who are health-conscious. However, eating a certain kind of oil is actually good.

Fish oil, which is derived from cold-water fish, provides various health benefits to the body.

It is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids such as docosohexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), both of which are not produced by one’s body but can be attributed to what one eats.

Primarily and significantly, both can only be derived from fish oils. DHA and EPA are essential nutrients that work on the cell level and its cell-to-cell communication which carry out every important function of every organ in the body.

Why does the body need fish oil? Dr. Luisito Llido of St. Luke’s Medical Center cites its many health benefits that can help in the various performances of the body system.

Since EPA and DHA modulate the body synthesis and activity of pro-inflammatory substances in the body, the intake of fish oil helps in the prevention of serious illnesses linked with inflammation.

Thus, among fish oil’s most substantial benefits include the reduction of the inflammatory status of the body secondary to trauma, conditions associated with several serious diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, weight loss for cancer patients and even secondary infections.

Fish oil can also alleviate the conditions of the cardiovascular and nervous systems that work well with allied conditions such as high-blood pressure.

Further research concluded that EPA and DHA present in fish oil benefit the heart as they decrease the amount LDL (bad) cholesterol in the body, stops the increase of fatty deposits (triglycerides) in arteries, expands the body’s HDL (good) cholesterol levels and decreases swelling in the blood. 

In line with the functions of the brain, Llido said fish oil helps in the prevention of cases of developmental defects, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism in children.

Research also revealed that fish oil can help protect the brain from disorders like Alzheimer’s disease.

According to Llido, fish oil can also be used to hasten recovery of patients due to its faculty to enhance the condition of certain body organs such as the liver.

For skin health, which EPA is directly related, fish oil has been proven beneficial to conditions like psoriasis. It has been proven to protect the skin from UVA sun damage, helps in oil production regulation and increased hydration thereby eliminating wrinkles, lines, acne and permanent skin damages. 

Fish oil is made available through Cenovis Fish Oil, an all-natural fish supplement brand in Australia that is odorless, and has no fishy after-taste due to its technologically advanced fish oil extraction process in Norway.

After the extraction process, the fish oil goes to the Philippines for repackaging. It is individually packed so it is easier to carry while preserving its freshness.

Unlike other fish oil brands that come from shark, seals, cod and other big, farmed fish, Cenovis Fish Oil comes from three kinds of small fish that have shorter life span, thus making them less exposed to pollutants and contamination in the seas. 

Among them are anchovies, mackerel and herring, which are caught wild from the open Peruvian waters, one of the cleanest seas, which feed on micro-algae, the original source of their EPA and DHA content — a major factor that big, farm-raised fish are short of in their diet.

These small, deep-sea fish reproduce easily hence there is no chance of depleting their population.