Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Is it Safe to Take Fish Oil in Supplements?

Scientists have known about omega-3 fatty acids since the 1930s, but only recently have they begun to see the health benefits of this compound found within fatty fish such as salmon. The discovery was originally made in the 70s when researchers noticed the diets of the Inuit people of Greenland: it was high in fish fat, and yet they had almost no cardiovascular disease. This observation has led today to the mass consumption of omega-3 fatty acids in America for their health benefits. But what are these benefits and how safe is it to take supplements?

Omega-3 fatty acids seem to be a gift of heart health from above that not even cheerios can rival. Scientists have found that it has been shown to reduce blood pressure, lowers blood triglyceride levels (the main ingredient in animal fats), and also reduces the risk of primary and secondary heart attacks.

As if all of this wasn't enough, more and more studies are claiming that omega-3 fatty acids do a number of different things. One such study reported that omega-3s actually had the ability to slow down cancerous tumor growth. Another explains that the neurons in our brains depend on omega-3 fatty acids to help them correctly relay information.

In fact, approximately eight percent of the human brain is this helpful compound. Scientists also suggest that omega-3 fatty acids are important for growth in children, both born and unborn. Pregnant women who ate fish in their third trimester were found to be 3.6 percent less likely to give birth prematurely or to a low weight baby.

With so many benefits to omega-3s, it's no wonder that so many people are interested in taking it as a dietary supplement of fish oil. Is this really good for you? Some argue that there could be a danger of ingesting too many heavy metals from these supplements, but scientists say that in fact heavy metals such as mercury and cadmium bond to a fish's flesh, and not their oils.

So taking supplements can be good for you, but it cannot compare to the actual thing. When given the opportunity, it is always a better idea to get the fresh omega-3 fatty acids from some fresh fish or another natural source such as kiwi fruit, chia, black raspberries, and eggs. There natural sources are not only great sources for omega-3s, but also a number of other healthy substances that food scientists still do not fully understand.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omega_3_fatty_acids