Why Fish Oils Are The Most Important Supplement
10/28/2010 8:57 AM
Fish oils have been promoted as a potential cure for virtually all diseases. Some members of the medical community have inferred that most ailments can be healed by manipulating the ratios between the EPA and the DHA.
For those of us interested in positively and optimally altering body composition and maximizing our training efforts, fish oils offer sixteen possible advantages:
1. Has positive effects on any disease known to man. According to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, fish oils have been shown to have medical applications in the treatment of extremely wide variety of ailments including hyperlipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia, coronary heart disease, cardiac arrhythmias hypertension, stroke, bipolar disorder, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, ulcerative colitis, Behcet’s syndrome, and Raynaud’s syndrome. Fish oils are also used orally for weight loss, asthma, cancer, painful menses, lung diseases, hay fever, Crohn’s disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, albuminuria associated with diabetic neuropathy, restenosis after angioplasty, miscarriage, preeclampsia, preterm labor, and intrauterine growth retardation. Fish oils are used for systemic lupus erythematosus, cystic fibrosis, gingivitis, renal impairment associated with cirrhosis, hyperglycemia associated with type 2 diabetes and claudication. Fish oils are also used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, and dyspraxia.
2. Cell membrane health. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), insure that cell membranes remain healthy. This means that the membranes are flexible and contain larger numbers of insulin receptors that are more receptive and responsive to circulating insulin. This results in decreased fat storage in the adipocytes (fat cells).
3. Fish oils turn on the lipolytic genes. That means that the genes responsible for burning fat are activated, which means there is an increased utilization of fat stores from the adipocytes.
4. Fish oils turn off the lipogenic genes. That means that the fat storage genes are turned off.
5. Fish oils diminish C-reactive proteins. This a newly identified risk factor associated with various inflammatory diseases, including atherosclerosis, angina, coronary heart disease, heart attack, stroke, congestive heart failure and diabetes. The DHA fraction of the fish oil seems to be one most responsible for that protective effect. DHA also has best ability to reduce blood pressure.
6. Reduced inflammation from physical training. EPA has the greatest effect on reducing inflammation through its downstream metabolites known as resolvins. Resolvins may be the key to the beneficial actions of fish oil in human diseases.
7. Pain management from the reduced inflammation. While fish oils reduce pain and inflammation themselves, they are also displacing other more pro-inflammatory fats out of the cell membranes, having an additive effect. When people improve their omega-6 to omega-3 ratio, they report a noticeable improvement in pain.
8. Increased focus in training. EPA regulates blood supply to the brain which is essential in maintaining focus in weight training sessions. DHA is important in brain membranes, memory and cognitive function.
9. Fish oils increase serotonin levels(th ehappy neurotransmitter).Therefore, fish oils will decrease incidence of depression, anxiety, panic attack and reduce carbohydrate cravings.
10. Fish oils will improve your cardiovascular risk profile. Fish Oils will lower VLDL, triglycerides, homocysteine, fibrinogen and increase HDL levels. Combining fish oils with plant sterols will improve lipid levels even more than either alone.
11. Fish oils can also decrease blood pressure by several mechanisms. These include increases in the vasodilatory compound, nitric oxide, reducing vascular inflammation, blocking the constrictive elements in the vascular wall such as the calcium channels reducing blood viscosity, and inhibiting a blood vessel constrictor (thromboxane). Lipoprotein (a) is another CVD predictor that can be lowered by fish oils (a 19% reduction was seen with natural, stable fish oils and just 4% with a highly purified fish oil).
12. Fish oils are a great stress fighter .Supplementation with n-3 fatty acids inhibits the adrenal activation of steroids, aldosterone , epinephrine and norepinephrine ( catecholamines) elicited by a mental stress, apparently through effects exerted at the level of the central nervous system. Therefore, for the same amount of stress, one will produce fewer stress hormones if consuming fish oils on a regular basis.
13. Fish oils turn on the carnitine enzymes. These are the enzymes responsible for the burning of body fat.
14. Fish oils mitigate insulin response. This means that your blood sugar won’t rise as quickly and sugar is less likely to go to your fat cells.
15. Fish oils reduce arterial stiffness and increase vasodilation. This benefit, which is good for both heart health and athletic performance, has been shown to take effect in 4 hours or less.
16. Very easy compliance. Taking fish oil on a regular basis is something very easy for people to do. Nearly all obese people are depressed, so for them to take fish oil, because it raises serotonin, could be their first essential step towards a lean healthy body.
Copyright ©2010 Charles Poliquin
19 comment(s) so far...
Re: Why Fish Oils Are The Most Important Supplement
Great list, but at what dosage are these benefits achieved?
Is there a daily dosage that will achieve most of the benefits?
John
By John on
10/28/2010 11:03 AM
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Re: Why Fish Oils Are The Most Important Supplement
John, few questions you need to ask yourself are:
1. Do you eat meat/seafood? If so, is it pasture raised/wild caught etc Vs commercial crap
2. How much omega-6 you might be consuming (from grains, veg oils)
3. What do you need more of, EPA or DHA?
By Chris on
10/28/2010 11:48 AM
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Re: Why Fish Oils Are The Most Important Supplement
Hi Chris,
1. Some seafood and a fair amount of meat, though it's admittedly commercial crap.
2. I try to avoid most grains and vegetable oils. I feel much better without those.
3. Really not sure how to answer this question as I haven't tracked symptoms as compared to EPA or DHA.
I know these were questions to ask myself, but I'm a bit lost...I'm really looking for a rule of thumb on the fish oil intake even though I understand that there are many variables to consider.
Thanks in advance for any further help you can offer.
John
By John on
10/28/2010 12:47 PM
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Re: Why Fish Oils Are The Most Important Supplement
Thanks.
Hey Poliquin, here in Norway we got lot`s of seal oil and that`s maybe the most popular supplement in norwegian health food stores.
Seal oil contain more of the fatty acid DPA. Many claim it`s a better omega 3 source than fish oil.
What do you think about seal oil? (if you`ve ever thought about it)
By Haugen on
10/28/2010 3:25 PM
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Re: Why Fish Oils Are The Most Important Supplement
Best supplement ever, nice article coach p
By Joe Dubyk on
10/28/2010 7:58 PM
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Re: Why Fish Oils Are The Most Important Supplement
Fish oil is a great supplement! But it's best to ensure that you are purchasing environmentally sustainable products. Seal oil may have contain a higher concentration of DPA, but were these seals harvested sustainably? Maybe we should think about that...
By Nee on
10/28/2010 8:51 PM
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Re: Why Fish Oils Are The Most Important Supplement
What a champ! thanks Coach!
By Jason Besterwitch on
10/28/2010 10:40 PM
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Re: Why Fish Oils Are The Most Important Supplement
I also use fish oil most of the time. I sometimes use krill oil and seal oil.
But I keep thinking more and more about seal oil. There are so many experts who claim it`s the best omega 3.
The reason why seal oil is not so popular as fish oil could be that seal hunting is not allowed in many parts of the world.
By Haugen on
10/29/2010 2:49 AM
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Re: Why Fish Oils Are The Most Important Supplement
Charles, I just finished watching your interview with Dr. Mark Houston on the Synergistic Role of using High Dosages of Fish Oil with Carnitine.
I live in Canada and noticed that for any of your carnitine products there are shipping restrictions to Canada.
Could you explain why the restrictions considering the crap they currently allow on the shelf? Are you aware of any possible changes to this restriction in the near future?
Thanks for your time.
Steve
By Steve on
10/30/2010 12:01 PM
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Re: Why Fish Oils Are The Most Important Supplement
Since reading your article, on fish oils and muscle gain, iv gained 16lbs since august coach.......plus following the poliquin principles!! Huge thanks coach, removiated me and my clients!! However, the misses does complain i smell of old womans clunge..due to the fish oils!!!! Its a sacrifice she will has to deal with!!! Thanks again mate
By frank on
11/1/2010 12:48 PM
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Re: Why Fish Oils Are The Most Important Supplement
Coach, I have watched your interview with Dr. Mark Houston on the Synergistic Role of using High Dosages of Fish Oil with Carnitine a few times.
I have two questions.
1. What's the correct DHA-EPA split?
2. What serving combinations you will recommend for fish oil and carnitine for a day?
Thanks a bunch
By Shawn on
11/3/2010 7:35 AM
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Re: Why Fish Oils Are The Most Important Supplement
RE: What is the best way to find out about the right dosages of fish oil and carnitine ? Charles I enjoyed your interviews with Dr. Houston. However I am not sure what is the correct dosages I should take. Could please send me some advice on what to do.
By Michael Catalanotti on
11/5/2010 9:56 AM
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Re: Why Fish Oils Are The Most Important Supplement
Coach, I really enjoyed your interview with Dr. Houston. Could you please send me advice on selecting the right dosages of fish oil and carnitine. Thank you michael
By Michael Catalanotti on
11/5/2010 10:00 AM
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Re: Why Fish Oils Are The Most Important Supplement
1 Gram per % BF a day with meals
By Rosco Marovitch on
11/18/2010 2:45 PM
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Re: Why Fish Oils Are The Most Important Supplement
I would like to know which would be the most effective oil for cardiovascular disease krill oil or seal oil and the reason for your choice
By Joan Mercantini on
2/10/2011 8:56 PM
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Re: Why Fish Oils Are The Most Important Supplement
Hi i was wondering what the correct dossage/ most effecetive dossage of fish oil and carnetine was for weight loss. I have been reading articles on your site and am very interested in your teachings after a friend who is doing a certificate with you recomended i have a look at your site if their is any information you can send me about your courses etc it would be appreciated.
Glen Buehler-Craig Australia
By Glen Buehler-Craig on
2/22/2011 6:20 AM
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Re: Why Fish Oils Are The Most Important Supplement
I Will like to know about the dosage of the fish oil.. I'm an average housewife in my 40's with a little overweight... Doing some weight lifting, some running..and now healthy food.. How many do you recommend per day and why?
By Isabel de reyes on
4/30/2011 10:41 AM
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Re: Why Fish Oils Are The Most Important Supplement
I think it would be great to find a reseller of poloquin fish oil over in australia. also, if you could provide some discount coupons on a site like www.dailycouponcodes.com.au then that would be great as we c an save some cash.
By tz on
5/12/2011 5:15 AM
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Re: Why Fish Oils Are The Most Important Supplement
hey TZ - i think they already sell fish oils in oz and also on the site you mention - Coupon Codes check it out
By craig brown on
5/12/2011 5:19 AM
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