Fish oil is not usually what comes to mind when you think of muscle building supplements. But it’s one of the few supplements on the market that I believe a staple for just about everybody, no matter your targets. The long-chain omega-3 fatty acids which it contains are beneficial for your health, body, and performance. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of fish oil.
The Basics
Fish oil is made-up of an assortment of fatty-acids, but the two that have gotten the most attention are the polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA. Both of these fatty acids are considered to be responsible for the majority of the positive advantages of fish oil.
Before we delve into fish oil, I know a few of you might be thinking that flax oil is just as good as it’s high in omega-3s. The issue with flax and other plant resources of omega-3s is they don’t include EPA and DHA. So once you eat flax your body needs to convert the shorter-chain omega-3s into EPA and DHA. Unfortunately, our bodies are not very good at this, especially as we age. To avoid this problem it’s ideal to use fish oil since your omega-3 supplement rather than flax oil.
History Lesson
There are various sources of EPA and DHA besides supplemental fish oil. EPA and DHA are found in large amounts in animal products such as wild salmon, grass-fed beef, eggs, and grass-fed dairy products. The thing is that these sources are not consumed regularly by many people. Thousands of years ago when human beings started evolving into what we are now these sources of long-chain omega-3s were plentiful. Since all fish was rampant and all wild game was grass-fed, our predecessors did not have to think about taking fish oil. It’s believed that the evolutionary development of our brains owes a good deal to the diet high in long-chain omega-3s, because the mind is composed largely of DHA.
Health Benefits
The fact that omega-3 fats once played such a prominent part in our diets, yet are now virtually excluded, may explain why fish oil has been shown to have positive benefits for virtually every disease out there. Indeed, if there was ever a cure-all, it appears that fish oil is it.
Specifically, EPA has been proven to get integrated into the cell walls of virtually every cell in your body. Greater amounts of EPA from the cell wall create exchange of nutrients and wastes simpler, which keeps our cells healthier. EPA is also known for its anti-inflammatory properties. This plays a massive part in cardiovascular and joint health.
DHA is known for its effects on the nervous system. Studies have shown that lower DHA levels correspond to Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, fish oil has been shown to play a role in preventing or treating these conditions: heart disease, stroke, arthritis, diabetes, Parkinson’s, depression, ADHD, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, and schizophrenia.
Physique Benefits
Fish oil is known to stabilize glucose levels, which is great for anyone looking to get rid of fat. It has also been demonstrated to raise your metabolism. I’ve found with lots of my customers that a high daily dose of fish oil often leads to the reduction of 1-3 pounds of fat in 1 week, without any other dietary changes. This might be caused by stabilizing blood glucose levels, increased metabolism, or possibly the incorporation of EPA to the cell walls that allows fatty acids to be released more easily into the blood for energy. Whatever the reason, the bottom-line is that it works!
Besides its own fat loss benefits, fish oil is well known because of its anti-inflammatory advantages. This translates into fewer nagging injuries and quicker recovery from heavy training sessions, which means more effective training sessions. This is exactly what makes fish oil a great quick muscle building supplement.
Zusammenfassung
As you can see, fish oil has a wealth of advantages. There are hardly any men and women who should not be using fish oil every day. Check with your physician to be certain fish oil is ideal for you. With the addition of fish oil to a solid training, nutrition, and supplement regimen you’ll shortly see a much healthier and better-looking body.
