Fish oil is a common health supplement that many people believe can lower blood lipids and prevent and treat cardiovascular disease.

But is fish oil really so magical? What are its effects and side effects? How should we use fish oil correctly?fish gelatin This article will reveal the truth about fish oil for you from a scientific perspective, allowing you to better understand and utilize this health product.

What is fish oil?

Fish oil is an oil extracted from the liver or muscle of fish. It mainly contains two important omega-3 fatty acids, namely docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).gelatin sheet These two fatty acids are essential nutrients for the human body, but the human body cannot synthesize them by itself and can only be absorbed from food.

The main source of fish oil is deep-sea fish, such as salmon, mackerel, herring, cod, etc. It can also be extracted from certain marine plants, such as seaweed, kelp, etc. Fish oil is usually sold in liquid, capsule, or tablet form and can be taken as a dietary supplement.

What are the benefits of fish oil?

The efficacy of fish oil is mainly related to the omega-3 fatty acids it contains. These fatty acids have a variety of physiological functions in the human body.Bovine Gelatin For example, omega-3 fatty acids can inhibit the synthesis of inflammatory mediators and reduce inflammatory reactions. For some chronic inflammatory diseases, such as Rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, etc., may have some relief.

At the same time, omega-3 fatty acids can reduce triglyceride levels in the blood, increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL, commonly known as "good cholesterol") levels, and improve blood lipid metabolism. There may be certain treatments for patients with hypertriglyceridemia. effect.

Omega-3 fatty acids can also inhibit the aggregation of platelets, reduce the viscosity of blood, increase the fluidity of blood flow, and prevent the formation of thrombosis. It is useful for some diseases prone to thrombosis, such as coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, etc. , may have a certain preventive effect.

In addition, omega-3 fatty acids can stabilize the electrophysiological activity of the heart, regulate heart rate and rhythm, prevent arrhythmias, and may have a certain protective effect for some patients with heart disease. Finally, omega-3 fatty acids are important components of nerve cell membranes, which can maintain the structure and function of nerve cells, promote the synthesis and release of neurotransmitters, and improve nerve conduction and cognitive abilities.

It may have certain preventive or therapeutic effects on some neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, etc.

What are the side effects of fish oil?

The side effects of fish oil are generally mild and do not usually cause serious adverse reactions, but you should also pay attention to the following points: Fish oil may cause symptoms of indigestion, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, heartburn, etc. These symptoms can usually be reduced by reducing dosage, divided into doses, or taken after meals for relief.

Fish oil may also cause a fishy aftertaste or bad breath. These symptoms can usually be masked by choosing unflavored or flavored fish oil products such as lemon, or by taking them with chewing gum or mint.

Fish oil may also increase the risk of bleeding, especially for patients taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs, such as aspirin, warfarin, clopidogrel, etc. When taking fish oil, you should pay attention to monitoring coagulation function and avoid overdose or combination with other drugs. medicine interactions.

In addition, fish oil may affect blood sugar control, especially for diabetic patients. When taking fish oil, you should pay attention to monitoring blood sugar levels and adjust the dosage of insulin or other hypoglycemic drugs to avoid hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia.

Fish oil may contain some harmful substances, such as heavy metals (such as mercury), environmental pollutants (such as dioxins) or bacterial toxins (such as glucan endotoxin). These substances may cause damage to the human body, so when choosing fish oil products When purchasing products, you should pay attention to their origin, quality and safety, and avoid purchasing inferior or counterfeit products.

In short, fish oil is a beneficial health product that can improve many aspects of the human body and has a certain effect in preventing and treating cardiovascular diseases. However, fish oil is not a panacea. It also has some side effects and precautions that require reasonable use and monitoring.