The Omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA derived from refined fish oils, can be of tremendous benefit to both the physical and mental health of those seeking to lead a fit and active lifestyle.

People Who Feel Better, Eat Better
It’s long been known by medical practitioners and weight-loss experts that people who consume high volumes of carbohydrates often do so to change their state of mind, to feel better, using elevated blood sugar levels as a way of feeling up rather than down. Carbohydrate rich food becomes a compensatory necessity for many people trying to keep a grip on their hectic lives in this modern and fast paced world.

There is a reason why people often indulge themselves by eating ice cream, candy, and other “comfort foods” following break-ups, job trouble, or other times of stress… It makes them feel better. Unfortunately the sensation lasts only a short while as the sugar high wears off quickly and results in a “crash” accompanied by fatigue and often depression. In many cases a cycle develops. Feel bad…eat. Feel worse…eat. Tired…eat. Down…eat. This type of behavior sets the stage for a pattern of poor eating habits that often lead to weight gain and other health concerns.

Improved mental health and sense of well being may substantially reduce a person’s tendency to reach for high carbohydrate foods and help prevent binge eating due to depression and/or anxiety.

Serotonin
Serotonin is an important chemical messenger responsible for a positive mood and an overall sense of well-being. One of the ways that refined fish oils high in EPA and DHA improve mental health is by making it easier for serotonin to pass through the cell by influencing receptor activity. The way EPA and DHA affect serotonin levels is actually quite similar to how many prescription antidepressant drugs and mood stabilizers work in the body, but without adverse side effects.

Serotonin levels are commonly lower in people who suffer from depression or have compulsive tendencies. Recent studies have also shown a link between high depression rates and low Omega-3 fish oil consumption in various regions of the world. The United States has been shown to be especially at risk due to the average American’s high intake of processed foods. Supplementing your diet with a high quality DHA/EPA product helps stabilize and improve your mood and general sense of well being. Furthermore, a stable, healthy state of mind reduces your tendency to binge on unhealthy carbohydrate rich foods.

Blood Flow
Research has shown that people who suffer from depression often have a lower level of blood flow to the brain and thus, lower levels of oxygen, nutrient, and energy exchange. Several compounds, like caffeine for example, produce a mental and physiological high by dialating (expanding) blood vessels in the brain and increasing blood flow. Unfortunately these compounds often come with a number of other side effects or are too effective at what they do, forcing your mind into an over-drive state that it cannot maintain without causing adverse effects and extreme fatigue. These compounds are also responsible for upsetting the delicate balance of other important neuro-chemicals. Refined Omega-3 fish oils however, seem to produce a mild to moderate increase in both blood flow and nutrient absorption in brain tissues without adverse side effects. The result is an improved distribution of nutrients such as oxygen and glucose that are critical to a well functioning and healthy brain.

Other Health Benefits
Some of the top researchers in the world have shown that Omega-3s from fish oil play a role in preventing heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and even cancer. The Omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil have been shown to reverse atherosclerosis, ameliorate angina, and reduce the risk of heart attack, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. They help maintain the elasticity of artery walls, preventing unhealthy forms of blood clotting, reducing blood pressure and help stabilize heart rhythm.

Omega-3 fatty acids are beginning to play an integral role in preventative medicine as they are believed to help with prevention of certain chronic diseases generally associated with aging. More recently, they have been used to combat clinical depression, including postpartum depression, and to help relieve symptoms of bipolar disorder and attention deficit disorder. Omega-3 fatty acids may also play a role in alleviating stress and minimizing tendencies toward angry and violent behavior.

Quality Sources Of Omega-3 Fish Oil
It is widely recognized that a high quality refined Omega-3 Fish Oil is one of the healthiest supplements you can add to your diet. Determining high quality in this sense requires a look at the sources for fish oil before refinement. The best Omega-3 concentrations come from select cold-water fish harvested from open waters (as opposed to farm raised). Sadly, much of the salmon in the markets and served in restaurants is farm raised. A pharmaceutical grade refined Omega-3 fish oil is the best way to supplement your diet with Omega-3 fatty acids.

Alternative sources of Omega-3 fatty acids do exist, but they are only marginally effective. For example, flax seed and some grain oils contain of a number of short-chain Omega-3 fatty acids. Unfortunately, the most beneficial Omega-3 fatty acids are long-chain fatty acids such as EPA and DHA and although the body does have the ability to construct long-chain fatty acids from short-chain fatty acids, the conversion rate is relatively low. A person would have to consume a high volume of flax seed or grain oils to receive even a fraction of the benefit afforded by a small quantity of refined Omega-3 fish oil.

Contrary to popular belief, cod liver oil is also a poor choice due to its low concentration of long-chain Omega-3 fatty acids and high content of the Vitamins A and D. Consuming enough cod liver oil to properly supplement your diet with Omega-3 fatty acids would most likely result in overdosing on Vitamins A and D.