The Complete Omega-3 Benefits for Your Body

One of the most well-known benefits of omega-3 is how it may help improve heart health. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is an umbrella term that describes diseases involving the heart and blood vessels, such as heart blockage. It is the number one cause of death globally [2]. 

Maintaining your heart health is closely linked with reducing or controlling existing risk factors for CVD. This includes conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels. Several review papers [3] [4] [5] have been published that show how omega-3 may help improve heart health even when you have existing CVD risk factors.

Experts agree that omega-3 may help;

• Reduce bad cholesterol and triglycerides
• Regulate blood pressure
• Improve blood flow

They also agree that dosage plays an important part in how far omega-3 can help. Higher DHA and EPA dosages are usually better for those with a pre-existing health condition.

While there are positive studies on the effects of omega-3 on existing CVD risk factors, whether or not omega-3 can prevent it depends on other factors such as;

• Your lifestyle
• Your diet
• Your environment
• Your genetic

As stated before, you should never treat omega-3 as a form of treatment and ignore your prescribed medication. It can be a functional nutritional supplement to improve your diet and lifestyle.

Joint pains, when left untreated, can lead to chronic conditions such as arthritis, with the most common type being osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. 

According to a 2019 study, there was a global increase of 113.25% in people with osteoarthritis from 1990 to 2019 [6]. In 2020 alone, around 654.1 individuals above 40 years old suffered from knee osteoarthritis [7], and this trend seems to be increasing. 

For rheumatoid arthritis, according to] WHO, around 18 million of the global population suffer from this condition, with 70% of them being women [8].

What is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a common type of arthritis, a classification of joint-based conditions. It is a degenerative disease that causes joint breaks over time. Osteoarthritis is divided based on the body part that suffers conditions. For example, knee osteoarthritis patients experience the symptoms on their knees.

This condition is the most common disease among the elderly, and symptoms include joint pains, stiffness, and inactivity of the body parts involved*.

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease that causes joint pains. This condition occurs when your immune system attacks the healthy cells in your body and causes inflammation in just one or multiple parts of your body. Common symptoms include joint aches or pains, swelling, and a feeling of tenderness.

This condition can happen at any age and is more common in women*.

Depression is a mental health condition that causes you to feel long periods of sadness and loss of interest. According to the World Health Organization, around 280 million people in the world suffer from depression [11]. Recent studies [12] [13] show that there is a connection between inflammation and depression. 

Omega-3 is known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Clinical studies [14] [15] [16] done in recent years show that there is a connection between omega-3 and depression. Most of these studies agree that omega-3 may help reduce the risk of depression and manage the condition better.

It is important to keep in mind that omega-3 should be looked at as a supporting element to your existing medication or treatments rather than a cure for depression. If you are feeling down or have been diagnosed with depression, it is always best to seek professional help. 

Do not hesitate to talk to a healthcare professional before incorporating omega-3 supplements into your treatment plan. They can provide you with the best advice based on your unique needs.

Oxidative stress happens when there are too many free radicals in your body. Free radicals are generated from body metabolism, lifestyle, and environment. Too much oxidative stress is known to damage your cells, proteins, and DNA. It is also linked to chronic inflammation that can damage your tissues and organs.

Multiple diseases, including arthritis, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and cancer, have been linked to oxidative stress.

Why Oxidative Stress is Bad for You

While not an antioxidant, omega-3 has rich anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce inflammation. For eye health, a common issue is dry eyes syndrome – a condition where your eyes cannot produce enough liquid (as tears). Symptoms of these include itchy, red eyes and a burning sensation. Omega-3 has the ability to reduce and prevent the symptoms of dry eye syndrome.

You also strengthen your eyes by taking omega-3 because DHA, a form of it, makes up around 50 -70% of the fatty acids in your retinas [17]. Remember that if you already need prescription glasses, taking omega-3 cannot restore your eye health, but it may help prevent your condition from worsening when included in your daily eye care routine.

Besides the eyes, DHA also contributes an average of 18% of fatty acids in an adult’s brain matter, while EPA is at around 0.05 – 0.01%. Taking omega-3 can help you maintain your brain health and help keep your mind sharp. 

 Omega-3, such as EPA and DHA, are especially good for your child’s brain development as early as the third trimester of pregnancy. This is one of the reasons why prenatal, postnatal, and children’s milk are fortified with them [18]. 

For the elderly, consistent omega-3 intake may help prevent cognitive brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Even so, it is important to note that if you are experiencing early symptoms of Alzheimer’s, such as forgetfulness, or are diagnosed with the condition, omega-3 should not function as a treatment.

Omega-3 is nutritional support, and you should always seek professional help with any health concerns.

Aside from being a strong anti-inflammatory ingredient, omega-3 is important to maintain healthy cell integrity. Combined, this makes omega-3 a good supplement for your skin. Several studies [19] [20] [21] have been done to see whether omega-3 can help with skin conditions such as acne, dermatitis, psoriasis, and eczema.

While there are positive results, such as less severity, faster healing, and fading scars, researchers agree that more studies must be done with more controlled conditions. There is also a review that explores how omega-3 can also protect your skin from harmful UVs [22].

Most medical practitioners agree that consistent intake of omega-3 at the right dosage is key to seeing its benefits on your skin.