Regularly eating oily fish or regularly taking fish oil capsules have long been advocated by the National Heart Foundation or Royal College of General Practitioners. The evidence is now mounting that essential omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are useful in the prevention of ischaemic heart disease ( angina , heart attacks) as well as in the treatment of the same. It now seems also that Fish oil is effective in the treatment of heart failure ( heart muscle weakness) , Omega 3 fatty acids ( DHA and EPA ) are essential fatty acids , which cannot or only partially be produced in the human body. Their concentration is high in breast milk and 30 % of brain mass is built by these omega 3 fatty acids. The Bodies highest concentration of these acids is found in the retina ( the nervous membrane at the back of the eye) .
The effect of taking fish oils or eating oily fish has been investigated in a number of large population studies like the Nurses Health Study US , or in systematic reviews of trials Fish oil seems to reduce bad fats like triglycerides and cholesterol , it also reduces inflammation factors like CRP and might so have a double effect on arterosclerosis the underlying pathology of vascular heart disease. One Scottish Health authority went that far to permit prescription of oily fish on standard NHS scripts. The National Heart Foundation Australia now recommends inclusion of fish oil capsules on Medicare PBS scripts.
The Anti-inflammatory effect of fish oil has been shown to a lesser degree in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
There is evidence that certain diseases like dementia , diabetes , inflammatory conditions ( Asthma , Rheumatoid Arthritis ) mouth and oesophageal cancer , cancer of the colon and ovary cancer are reduced in fish eating populations , but these need more research to be recommended. The judge is also out on fish oil and ADHD , children brain development , children and aggressive behaviour.
Prevention requires 500 mg of omega 3 acids (equals 2 standard fishoil capsules) and treatment of heart disease needs 3 standard doses. Alternatively eat 3 meals of oily fish a week (mackerel , atlantic salmon even canned, canned tuna , herring or sardines. Not so good as rich in mercury are shark , swordfish , merlin rays , cat fish. Pregnant women or children should eat mercury rich fish only once a forthnight or avoid at all.
What ever you do don’t pan fry or deep fry the fish as this destroys the essential fats and also loads the fish dinner with bad fats. So why don’t settle for a poached, baked, grilled or gently steamed fish meal with lemon and batter sauce , a glass of white wine and enjoy while doing your health good.
Helko Schenk
Geraldton Medical Group
17 8 2009
The effect of taking fish oils or eating oily fish has been investigated in a number of large population studies like the Nurses Health Study US , or in systematic reviews of trials Fish oil seems to reduce bad fats like triglycerides and cholesterol , it also reduces inflammation factors like CRP and might so have a double effect on arterosclerosis the underlying pathology of vascular heart disease. One Scottish Health authority went that far to permit prescription of oily fish on standard NHS scripts. The National Heart Foundation Australia now recommends inclusion of fish oil capsules on Medicare PBS scripts.
The Anti-inflammatory effect of fish oil has been shown to a lesser degree in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
There is evidence that certain diseases like dementia , diabetes , inflammatory conditions ( Asthma , Rheumatoid Arthritis ) mouth and oesophageal cancer , cancer of the colon and ovary cancer are reduced in fish eating populations , but these need more research to be recommended. The judge is also out on fish oil and ADHD , children brain development , children and aggressive behaviour.
Prevention requires 500 mg of omega 3 acids (equals 2 standard fishoil capsules) and treatment of heart disease needs 3 standard doses. Alternatively eat 3 meals of oily fish a week (mackerel , atlantic salmon even canned, canned tuna , herring or sardines. Not so good as rich in mercury are shark , swordfish , merlin rays , cat fish. Pregnant women or children should eat mercury rich fish only once a forthnight or avoid at all.
What ever you do don’t pan fry or deep fry the fish as this destroys the essential fats and also loads the fish dinner with bad fats. So why don’t settle for a poached, baked, grilled or gently steamed fish meal with lemon and batter sauce , a glass of white wine and enjoy while doing your health good.
Helko Schenk
Geraldton Medical Group
17 8 2009
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