Are Fish Oil Supplements Truly Beneficial to our health?
It’s been said before that fish oil pills are one of the most beneficial things that you can do to improve your overall health. But just how much truth does this claim hold? The National Institutes of Health is investigating just that.
Fish oil supplements have been touted by health care professionals as one of the best ways for patients to increase their chances of battling heart disease and hypertension. But until now, these claims have been unproven and untested. The National Institutes of Health has stated that they would like to examine the benefits of fish oil supplements in a larger study of previous examinations of this phenomenon.
A 2015 Examination of older studies should shed some light
24 studies over the years, which were chosen at random by the NIH, will be examined to determine if fish oil supplements really do hold these widely speculated benefits. According to data, it is determined that Americans spend over $1.2 billion each year on fish oil pills and similar products alone. One author of a recent 2013 study speculates that about 10 percent of Americans take the supplement daily.
What makes fish oil supplements shine as a healthy addition to your healthcare routine comes in the form of fatty acids. Fish oil supplements are thought to contain omega 3 fatty acids – a type of essential fat that aids in body functions. According to Harvard’s Nutritional Source site, omega 3 fatty acids, “…[are] an integral part of cell membranes throughout the body and affect the function of the cell receptors in these membranes. They provide the starting point for making hormones that regulate blood clotting, contraction and relaxation of artery walls, and inflammation. They also bind to receptors in cells that regulate genetic function.”
How This research Will Affect Contemporary Healthcare
This critique of fish oil pills comes at a time when speculation of the product’s efficiency is on the rise in the healthcare field. A Dietary Supplements scientific consultant at the NIH named Paul R. Thomas attests that the claims of fish oil supplement benefits have been around for decades, and that “the inconsistent articles and recommendations are due to third party prejudice”. By analyzing the value of these scientific claims, the NIH and other health care authorities can examine the efficiencies and best forms of regulation of which to utilize these advances for simplifying patients’ ability to take control of their health.
