.png)
If Magikarp existed, I would eat him for sure. Although according to the official Pokedex, Magikarp is almost 3 feet tall and weighs a whopping 22 lbs.
That's a lot of fish. Not sure if I can handle it.
.png)
"22 lbs? I'm not impressed."
(If you understand that reference, kudos to you. Let me know.)
Docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, is an Omega-3 fatty acid found in fish oil that does some pretty awesome and amazing things in the human body.
- DHA is found in extremely high amounts in your brain and your eyes.
- In fact, in the brain tissue of depressed patients, DHA levels are found to be lower than normal.
- DHA can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by lowering serum triglycerides.
- DHA can boost memory function, as shown by multiple studies.
- DHA can also reduce inflammation.
- DHA promotes the health of your hippocampus, the memory center of your brain, by reducing stress on it
Mother-brain took fish oil. Definitely.
So yeah, its good stuff. DHA is even added into infant formula because of its ability to boost brain health. Prenatal DHA is also a good idea for moms-to-be, as it could help their child grow a stronger brain and healthy eyes.
From a personal perspective, when I stop taking fish oil for prolonged periods of time, I forget things. I'm slower. I can't recall memories, names, or procedures how to do things. I'm more stressed. I'm unfocused. I'm moody, and even depressed sometimes without fish oil.
I just notice my mental health improve tremendously when I'm taking it versus NOT taking it.
Alright, so there are some awesome cognitive and cardiovascular benefits to fish oil, but what else?
As I mentioned earlier, there are some anti-inflammatory benefits as well. For lifters, or anyone with JOINT-PAIN, this is huge. Fish oil can help reduce joint pain and swelling. The EPA in fish oil is the main culprit in this mechanism. Check this out, from www.alive.com:
August 2000
by Dale Gordon, ND
"Oils from salmon and tuna contain a key omega-3 EFA called eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), which inhibits a type of prostaglandin hormone. This hormone both increases inflammatory substances, while at the same time increases prostaglandins that inhibit inflammation. Salmon oil, which contains 18 percent EPA, is amazing in reducing inflammation and pain and increasing joint flexibility."
I would say fish oil is a no-brainer but... I think we've shown otherwise.
Puns aside, fish oil is one of my foundation supplements - something that everyone should take, because everyone can certainly benefit from it.
Quick review for the TLDR kids.
- Memory benefits
- Mood benefits
- Improved cognitive function
- Cardiovascular health improvements
- Anti-inflammatory
- Joint support
What should you buy?
When buying a fish oil, LOOK ON THE BACK to see how much EPA and DHA you're getting per serving. (Serving size can be 1, 2 or 3 pills. Be wary)
A bottle could say 1000mg, but only provide 300mg of Omega-3's. That's a lot of filler in that pill.
I like liquids. They're super potent and have little to no filler. One teaspoon of liquid could be equivalent to 4 or 5 softgels.
As a guideline, I like to hit at least 1000mg of DHA per day. My EPA will be higher more than likely. As long as I hit my DHA number for the day, I'm a happy camper. I'll probably end up with 2000 to 5000mg of Omega-3's per day, depending on my fish, flax, chia, or hemp intake.
As far as mercury goes, responsible companies have advanced processes in place to remove as much mercury, PCBs, heavy metals, and contaminants as humanly possible. Consumer Labs often tests fish oils for their potency and cleanliness. That's always a good resource. Some brands I like would be Carlson's, Nature's Answer, Life Extension, and Vitamin Shoppe store brand.
Well that's it! Go buy some fish oil and be happier you miserable bastard.
