Fish oil comments?

[susan423]

Ok, I'm not one to take allot of suppliments but I've been hearing a lot about fish oil so I went out and got some capsules and now I can't really find anything about it (the benefits with this woe, when and how much to take, Ect.) So now I'm wondering if I really need it. What are your thoughts.

Susan

[Mirya]

Re: Fish oil comments?

I can tell you fish oil is good for you to raise your GOOD cholestoral.

[biogeek]

Re: Fish oil comments?

Dr. Atkins was a huge believer in fish oil and flaxseed oil supplementation! Even if you don't believe what he does, there are many scientific studies that have been published over the years that paint a favorable picture of these oils with helping our health.

I'm not certain how much detail you are seeking in this regard. Have you read DANDR on this subject? That would be a great place to start as you would be taking the advice of Dr. Atkins rather than us. He also has a wonderful book about vitamins/minerals/fats/etc called Dr. Atkins' Vita-Nutrient Solution. ISBN: 0684844885. It's a great place for beginner's to start because Atkins writes at a level that just about anyone can understand. He does not write in "medical-ese" and is organized in a very friendly manner.

Let me know if you have questions about the above readings.

[susan423]

Re: Fish oil comments?

I guess what I'm really seeking is some real life experiences. Studies don't mean a thing to me if I don't feel a difference in the way I feel, my weight loss, ect. I feel like I've waisted so much many on vitamins that don't do a thing for me. So have you guys noticed a difference in anything since taking fish oil?

[MrsBrittney]

Re: Fish oil comments?

Fish oil, or any of the Omega's (3, 6, 9), are vital in keeping your body and heart running like a well-oiled machine. Obviously, I can't tell you (outside of studies that don't even relate to this WOE) how much better my heart FEELS because thats not very measurable on a personal level, but my favorite benefits are the improvement to my skin and hair. I think the reason you see the suggestion for consuming Omega supplements are the health benefits. A healthier and more easily functioning body probably does have an easier time losing weight. But moreso, we're doing this WOE not just to BE thinner but be a HEALTHIER thinner, which is where these come into play. Certain Omega's also help metabolize fat, which can directly relate to your weight loss success.

[Debi2007]

Re: Fish oil comments?

Well, I have taken it, but don't know how to answer your question. Some of the benefits of fish oil (there are many more):

Lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol levels in the body.

Stopping the buildup of fatty deposits (triglycerides) in the arteries.

Increasing the body's HDL (good) cholesterol levels.

Reducing inflammation in the blood.

I guess overall feeling better is due to the diet in general and vitamins, but I don't know how to break down what specifically is making me feel better. I just presume that Dr. Atkins knew what he was talking about... and many other Doctors recommend fish oil, not just for the omega 3's but for vitamin d and a. It does seem important in being healthy.

[MrsBrittney]

Re: Fish oil comments?

I would also say many vitamins arent there to make huge changes to how you feel, they are there to ensure you stay healthy and running like a good weight-burning machine. Its almost all internal. If you are worried about cost, try htttp://www.puritan.com .. they usually have great deals. Like right now, its Buy 1 Get 1 Free OR Buy 2 Get 3 Free, with $1 shipping. =)

[biogeek]

Re: Fish oil comments?

I guess what I'm really seeking is some real life experiences. Studies don't mean a thing to me if I don't feel a difference in the way I feel, my weight loss, ect. I feel like I've waisted so much many on vitamins that don't do a thing for me. So have you guys noticed a difference in anything since taking fish oil?

Well, everyone is different and feelings are quite subjective. We can have the whole lot of ADBB have exactly the same experience, but you may have a different view. It's along the same lines as a scientific study...not everyone responds in the same way.

However, I can understand your frustratation with wasting money on things that don't work for you, but a lot of times, it WILL be trial and error. Sometimes it takes awhile for your body to respond to a new vitamin and other times not. You must be patient, keep a good journal, and be honest with yourself. You have to be your own advocate to your health.

Mrs. Brittney also said some very good things, and I would have to agree with her. My experience with fish oil and flax seed oil has been a vast improvement with my skin, hair, nails, and eyes. I suffer from psoriasis and it has helped my poor skin with fewer flair ups. I'm not cured by any means, but my quality of life & mood has improved. However, I also take them in conjunction with other vitamins, which I started at the same time as the fish oils.

I'm very sensitive to my body now and I can tell when I don't take my vitamin B or my omegas when I run out. Vit B has also helped me with my skin, but also with my mental alertness and mood.

I have not noticed an increase in weight loss with fish oil, but then, I didn't expect there to be. It is not a magic pill by any means, but I do believe it has a lot of health value for those that decide to take it.

Best of luck to you.

[philliha]

Re: Fish oil comments?

I first started taking fish oil pills for a supplement for acne. Many people on my acne board swear by them, and in my case, I saw a noticable difference over time. As others have mentioned, they're also great for your heart. They're not going to necessarily make your weight fall off, but they are excellent for many different areas of your body.

[misplaced southerner]

Re: Fish oil comments?

i don't have anything new to add....my own experience...when i went to the doc weighing 220 pounds,my cholesterol was 202. he suggested fish oil (along with some other supplements). 70 pounds later, that combined with exercise dropped my total cholesterol from 202 to 164.

it is an essential omega 3 fatty acid. we do not as a rule eat enough cold water fish. so...i take it. it is relatively inexpensive

[Atkid]

Re: Fish oil comments?

My local tv station had a segment on Fish Oil and Weightloss last Wednesday. It links inflamation in the body to weight gain. It says to take 2.5 grams of fish oil a day. Here is the story.







Weight Loss Wed.: Fish oils beneficial for fight against obesity



01:33 PM CST on Thursday, February 7, 2008



Meg Farris / Eyewitness News Medical Reporter

Dozens of Hollywood celebrities have become believers in Dr. Barry Sears' best-selling Zone Diet, including Jennifer Aniston.










“She was told when she first came on ‘Friends,’ if you don't lose 10 pounds, you may not be here next season,” Sears said.



Sears said he knows the reason for the obesity epidemic and why it's so hard for so many to lose weight.



“And the bottom line, what causes obesity, it turns out is inflammation,” he said.

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Not the kind of inflammation that causes pain, swelling and then healing, it’s an inflammation you can’t feel attacking each of your 100 trillion cells, which also causes diabetes, heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer’s; he said it all started from eating a dangerous combination.



It’s an increase of cheap carbohydrates, like simple sugars and starches, followed by an increase in cheap vegetable oils, such as corn and soybean, which are rich in Omega-6 fatty acids, the building block of hormones that cause inflammation. But Sears said we add gasoline to the fire when we dramatically stop eating enough Omega-3 fatty acids in fish like salmon, tuna, sardines and anchovies that balanced out the Omega-6 fats and put out the fires in our cells.



“Probably, in my opinion, the greatest public healthcare disaster in the 20th century was the day parents stopped giving their children fish oils,” Sears said.



Remember that daily nasty spoon of cod liver oil your older relatives talk about? That was in the ‘40s, before the obesity epidemic, and Sears said the Japanese diet high in fish oil was the reason they live the longest with good health, low heart disease and depression.



“It’s almost a miracle nutrient and I don't want to say ‘nutrient,’ it's almost a drug that's even better than a drug, because hormones are hundreds of times more powerful than drugs, yet we are ignoring it,” he said.



According to Sears, people need to take 2.5 grams of fish oil per day, in either liquid or capsule form. And for meals: one-third of the plate should be low-fat protein, with a dash of heart healthful fats such as olives, almonds and avocados. As for the rest of the plate, Sears said fill it with colorful fresh fruits and vegetables.



Several other experts agree with him.



“So if you can control inflammation and this is a theory, this is not something based in fact, but it makes perfect sense, if you can work to control inflammation, it may be easier to take off weight,” said Dr. Henri Roca, LSUHSC, Family-Integrative Medicine.



Dr. Kim Edward LeBlanc, Chief of Family Medicine at LSUHSC, said decreasing the inflammation might also benefit people with diabetes.



“If you decrease inflammation you decrease insulin resistance, which means you would help a diabetic, so there are some ongoing studies to show the use of this in diabetes that there is some benefit to them so that they can actually respond to insulin in their body better,” LeBlanc said.



Health and fitness expert Mackie Shilstone said an increase of Omega-3 fatty acids in the diet would be more effective in losing visceral fat and the inflammatory response that comes with it.



After putting a 1,230-pound man on anti-inflammatory foods, Sears said he quickly lost 400 pounds just by lying in bed; and his blood levels became healthy.



“Genetically, we are all very different, but we all have the power using food as a very powerful agent to change the expression, and by doing so squeeze the best we can out of the genes we were given by God,” Sears said.

[Atkid]

Re: Fish oil comments?

Here is the link so you can get to the video if you'd like to see it

http://www.wwltv.com/medical/index.html