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Depression and Fish Oil

Depression can greatly affect our lives. Much research has been done on depression, a state in which a person expresses a low mood and aversion to activity. Depression usually impair their social and occupational experiences. The symptoms of depression are varied, they represent feelings of hopelessness, difficulty in concentration , lack of control over negative thought, lost of appetite, irritability, and difficulty in sleeping.

Much research has been done in treating depression. Several studies found that persons suffering from depression had a deficiency in Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and depleted levels of plasma and cell membrane omega-3 EFA's and DHA. This deficiency could trigger fluctuations of serotonin in the brain.

There also seems to show a relationship between fish consumption and depression. Symptoms of depression were generally higher among persons who infrequently consumed fish. Fish is one of the main sources of omega-3; both EFA and DHA are found in fish oil. DHA is necessary to ensure optimum brain cell function. Possibly the reason fish is termed as "brain food"

In a study, clinically depressed individuals were given a daily dose of 1,2, or 4 grams of EPA in addition to their normal therapy. The results showed that a dose of 1 g was sufficient to produce the biggest response.

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The increase in omega-3 fatty acids helped individuals suffering from depression to regain their balance of fatty acids and see dramatic improvement in major neurotransmitters in the brain and improvement in their mood. More research also shows that the EPA and DHA also help relieve depression in a number of related disorders such as dementia, ADHD, Alzheimer's disease, and dyslexia. Also, individuals who were chronically angry, showed a similar deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids.

An increase in omega-3 fatty acids can help many people along these various spectrum regain their balance of fatty acids and see dramatic improvement in major neurotransmitters in the brain and improvement in their mood. Many people will continue to attest to the positive effects of taking fish oil in their life.

Did you know?
Low content of DHA in a mother's breast milk shows a greater likelihood of the mother developing postpartum depression.

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Cardioprotection from Fish Oil

Studies show that the omega-3 fish oil supplements have a positive cardiovascular effects. Omega-3 in fish oil offers for patients with high risk of heart disease an opportunity to manage their illness and reduce possible cardiovascular outcomes of myocardial infarction.

Other studies shows the omega-3 fish oil supplementation with 1 gm fish oil omega-3 fatty acid also help patients reduce the risk of coronary artery disease. Some notable benefits of fish oil rich in omega-3 fatty acids are: protection against pathologic ventricular arrhythmias, improvement in heart rate variability, stabilization of a healthy cholesterol, and decrease platelet aggregation.

Courtesy: www.tinypic.com

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Farmed Raised Fish Safer?

In August of 2001, the Popular Science journal carried an article claiming that farmed raised fish was safer (p.34). This is certainly a controversial topic that seems to be quite heated, especially as we see the growing number of studies done that support the benefits that occur from including omega-3 fatty acids in the diet. What is safer about these industrialised aquacultures?

First, research found that fish raised at southern aquaculture farms carry much lower levels of many pollutants, PCB s, pesticides, heavy metals, mercury, lead, arsenic,and cadmium, than fish caught in the wild. Researchers discovered that mercury levels were 40 to 100 times lower than federal safety standards.

The researchers hypothesize that farm raised fish do not graze on the polluted river bottoms, but rather raised in ponds filled from ground water. But, what about the the growth hormones and genetically modified foods the fish are fed? There is no such answer to these questions in the article.

Farm-raising , specifically of salmon, began in the 1960s in Norway. They were fed pellets to speed their growth twice times faster than those in the wild and pesticides was used in the water to kill lice. Today, this business exceeds $2 billion dollars and over 700,000 fishes are harvested annually.

Farm raising has brought the benefit of decreasing the pressure placed on fishing in the wild, and offers employment in depressed areas.

It does get confusing for the consumer. But, this assertion, do raise some very good ideas and at the same time cautions us as to the type of responsibility we are giving ourselves. Should we opt to raise all our fish food in this way?

For one, many farms are overcrowded and disease filled. Farmed fish may have high doses of antibiotics, colorants, and other artificial chemicals that make them a threat to the environment. Farms also pollute nearby ponds and oceans. Farm fish foul the sea and spread sea lice. This in turn affects wild fishing and creates more danger for wild fish.

But should all farms be given a bad name when there are aqua farms that follow "best practices"? These are the ones we should support, right?

They help make available fish to the general public, especially, salmon, all year round. But the cost of cleaning up the environment is not entirely borne by these large corporations. So they can glut the market with cheaper fish which in turn can be devastating for the small fishermen.
Is it not cheaper and more convenient to become more responsible, control pollution and allow nature to do what it can do, obviously far better than us? i.e Raise fresh naturally grown pesticide free, lice free, antibiotic free ....free fish

Here are some facts you should know:

1. Nearly half of the Fresh salmon in the world are farmed-raised by a few giant multinational aquaculture corporations.

2. Farmed fish are fed antibiotics that enter the environment either through fish faeces or uneaten food. These antibiotic resistant, pathogenic bacteria are transferred to humans, posing a risk to human health.

3. The type of fishes highest in Mercury are: shark, swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish, tuna, oysters, pike, walleys, white croker, and large mouth bass.

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Omega-3 Fatty Acids

The omega-3 fatty acids are part of a group of essential polysaturated fatty acids (PUFA) which comprise of docosahexanoic acid (DHA), eicosapentanoic acid (EPA), and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). This infographic share more details about this essential polysaturated oil, omega-3 fatty acid.

Studies show that omega-3 fatty acids have extraordinary benefits; they are excellent in treating bipolar disorder, depression, postpartum depression, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, stress, schizophrenia, and autism. Omega-3 oils are need for normal nervous system function and seems to be able to regulate mood, attention, memory, and pyschosis. These studies and more show that omega-3 are vital for our brain and body health.

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The Molecular Distillation Process of Refining Fish Oil

Here is a simple infographic explaining the procedure for purification of ultrapure fish oil from crude fish oil through the use of the ingenious method of molecular distillation.

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Benefits of Fish Oil

A number of studies has been carried out on the effectiveness of fish oil. We now have a lot of evidence that suggest the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids on the body's composition and mental health. Omega-3 fatty acids also plays a crucial role in brain function, normal growth and development.

A number of these benefits includes:

Reduced risk of getting heart disease.
Reduced triglycerides, heart rate, blood pressure, and atherosclerosis
Stimulate blood circulation, increase the breakdown of fibrin, a compound involved in clot and scar formation,
Reduce blood pressure and blood triglyceride levels,
Reduces the risk of secondary and primary heart attack.
Helpful in cases of depression and anxiety.
Reduce the risk of ischemic and thrombotic stroke
Decrease in homocysteine
Decrease platelet aggregation
Improve endothelial cell functions

However, omega 3 in very large amounts may actually increase the risk of hemorrhagic stroke.

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What is Fish Oil

The body cannot produce omega -3; these special fats has to be acquired from a dietary source. Most nutritionists believe that fish oil helps balance one's intake of other kinds of fat generally consumed from vegetable or animal sources. Studies show that fish oil can lower ones total fat intake to 20 to 30 percent.

Fish oil is a fatty oil that is obtained by extracting fish oil with food-grade ethanol and purified by molecular distillation. Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids, Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), that protect the heart and arteries, reduce pain, inflammation and swelling and protect the cell membranes.

The fatty fishes, like herring and sardines, accumulate the omega-3 fatty acids from the microalgae they consume. The fatty predatory fish accumulate the omega-3 from eating prey fish. Fatty predatory fishes have high levels of omega-3 fatty acids. However, larger species such as mackerel, tuna, and salmon may also accumulate high levels of toxic contaminants.

Generally, fish oil capsules contain 32% high content of saturated fatty acids (myristic and palmitic acids), 18% to 30% of EPA, and 12% to 20% of DHA (depending on the brand name and manufacturing company). Fish oil also contain cholesterol, vitamin A, retinol, and vitamin E.

Fish oil supplements help balance our intake of fats. The omega-3 fatty acid in fish oil enrich the western diet that is deficient in omega-3 fatty acids because of excess levels of omega-6 fatty acids. the American Heart Association therefore recommends the inclusion of oily fish in the diet at least twice a week or 1 g per day of EPA and DHA from fish oil supplements.

Fish oil soft gel

Photo courtesy: http://www.tinypic.com

All fish oil's are not equal; some better than others. Make sure the one you are taking is a high-quality, pure and potent supplement product. However, the best source of omega-3 is from the fish, but if you need a supplement you should take fish oil that had been manufactured from the fish's body and not the liver (such as cod liver oil which may contain high levels of vitamin A).

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