LifeStyle Fitness Solutions

Fish Oil is Indispensible to Lifestyle Fitness

Fish Oil Capsules

A couple years ago I recommended it to a friend that was going to the gym fairly consistently but not losing any weight due to his diet. I recommended adding a few grams of double strength fish oil per day and in a month he called me to tell me he lost over an inch off of his waist and was down a couple belt notches. He didn’t change anything in his diet accept for adding those fish oil capsules 3 times per day. The Omega-3’s in fish oil turn on the fat burning genes in your body which makes them one of the best fat burners your money can buy. When most people think of fat burners they think of all the heavy stimulatory supplements on the market designed to speed up your metabolism. The problem with these fat burners is that they quickly burn out your adrenal glands and can stop working within a few weeks. Fish oil works by using a completely natural mechanism in the body. The fats in fish oil bind to your PPAR’s (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor’s). Different types of fat send messages and bind to your PPAR’s in different ways. The good fats will bind to your PPAR’s and turn on the fat burning mechanisms in your cells while bad fats will bind to your PPAR’s and turn off the fat burning mechanisms along with other damage. PPAR’s are highly concentrated on your liver and fat cells so it’s a good idea to send them the good fat signals!

We just talked about those PPAR’s that communicate with your DNA to turn your metabolism up and down. They are also largely responsible for inflammation. Inflammation is caused by poor diet, stress, lack of exercise, and even food allergies. Inflammation is a double edged sword. It cause aches and pains in your body and also causes you to gain more weight. By reducing the inflammation in your body you can reduce those achy pains that you feel everyday as well as create a body that is in more of a state of fat burning rather than fat storage. Taking fish oil and antioxidants can help reduce inflammation but you also want to get right down to whatever is causing it. To really get yourself healthy you need a multi-tiered approach that includes a good nutrition program with exercise.

The reduction in inflammation in your body gives it a stronger immune response to everything else.  Your body can fight infections better.  By reducing certain inflammatory prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and interleukins – Omega 3s promote the healthy function of the immune system.  Studies have also shown that people with low blood levels of Omega-3’s were more likely to report mild to moderate depression.  Numerous studies have shown a link to low Omega-3 levels and various psychological disorders such as bi polar disorder, depression, ADD, and ADHD.  Taking supplemental fish oil can help many people improve their moods and fight stress.

With so many reasons to add fish oil the only thing that may be holding you back is a fish allergy, your distaste for fish, or you don’t want to take fish capsules. There are other sources of Omega-3’s that I recommend. Aside from fish you can also find Omega-3’s in flax seed or flax oil. You can get milled flax seed in the health section of many grocery stores. It is finely chopped up and can be added to your favorite foods. I actually add it to my chili to give it a burst of Omega-3. If you prefer using flax oil a tablespoon or two can be added to a protein smoothie to add a healthy dose of Omega-3’s. Walnuts are especially high in Omega-3’s if you are looking for a healthy on the go snack and you can also buy Omega-3 fortified eggs.

With so many benefits that you can get from fish oil I rank it as the #1 supplement when viewing benefits to cost. For $20 you can get yourself a 3 month supply of double strength fish oil. Try it for 3 months and you might agree it was the best $20 investment you ever made for your body!

Author – Rick Porter