What is Fish Oil?

Fish oil is one of the most common omega-3 supplements on the market. This dietary supplement has been associated with several health benefits, including better heart, brain and skin health, and a lower risk of depression (1). For this reason, if you have a diet poor in omega-3-containing foods, fish oil can be a good nutritional supplement at any age.

Does fish oil make you gain weight because of its fat content? raises the question. However, studies report that fish oil supplementation supports weight loss and accelerates metabolism in individuals who do not consume enough omega-3s.

Fish Oil Supplement

First of all, fish oil is not a supplement that everyone should use. A minimum of 250 – 500 mg of EPA and DHA daily is recommended for healthy adults (2). EPA and DHA are the most well-known long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and are mainly found in oily fish. However, EPA and DHA can also be produced from the essential fatty acid ALA. ALA is found in foods such as walnuts, chia seeds, and flax seeds. However, the conversion of ALA to EPA and DHA may not be sufficient for adults. For this reason, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends eating 1-2 servings of fish per week.

However, people who do not consume these foods regularly may need to use fish oil supplements in consultation with their doctor. Although your doctor will recommend the most adequate dosage, how much you should consume in general is determined by the amount of EPA and DHA in the fish oil you take. It's important to read the label of your omega-3 supplement to understand how much EPA and DHA it contains. You may even need to take eight capsules a day depending on your needs, but remember that these needs vary from person to person and consult your doctor.

In general, we can list the properties of fish oil as follows:

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