Fish Oil, full of essential fatty acids, is needed for a healthy diet. Few people get the recommended amount of essential fatty acids through food and need to consume fish oil in order to maintain optimal health.
Fish oil is derived from the tissues of oily fish and is one of the best sources for essential fatty acids. These acids are “essential” because the body needs them to properly function and the body does not produce all that is needed. Fish oil is also high in protein, vitamins, and minerals and is low in saturated fat.
In order to get the proper amount of fish oil through diet alone, a person would need to eat fish two or three times a week or eat a lot of walnuts and flaxseeds every day. Most people just can’t meet these eating standards and therefore need a fish oil supplement.
The most common fatty acids are Omega-3. These fatty acids belong to a group of fats called polyunsaturated fats, or the “good fats.” There are two types of Omega-3 fatty acids:
The essential fatty acids in fish oil have been shown to offer the following health benefits.