Nutrition Challenge: July 25th – July 29th

Over the last two centuries, the American diet has seen a major drop in omega-3 consumption. This has occurred for many reasons, not least of which being the rise in saturated fats used in food processing and the switch from grass-fed to grain-fed beef. The result has led to major health problems for Americans. That is where the fishoils step in!
Fishoils have been shown to help and reduce the prevalence of the following:

–          Depression

–          ADHD

–          Bipolar illness

–          Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

–          Fibromyalgia

–          Heart attack

–          Stroke

Relieves Pain from Inflammation

If pain is associated with inflammation (and most pains are), it is important to realize that omega-3 fish oil also plays a critical role in suppressing excess inflammation in our bodies. This deficiency is one major reason why people are suffering from pain. Taking fish oil can decrease this excess inflammation — resulting in wonderful relief from pain.
Try a quick test to see whether your body’s inflammatory system is on overdrive. When you get a paper cut, it should quickly go away and be forgotten. If it gets red and you still feel the pain an hour later, you might benefit from taking fish oil.

Getting Fish Oil from Foods or Supplements

I’ve recommended fish oils for many years. The benefits of omega-3s for heart health, mental well-being, pain, and more make fish oil seem like a clear, natural choice. With fish oil being so important, I recommend people get at least 3-4 servings of salmon, tuna, sardines, herring or mackerel weekly.
If you find that getting the fish oil you need through meal planning is difficult to do, adding a supplement is a great alternative. Unfortunately, this can lead to taking a lot of pills (often 10-12 a day,) which is both obnoxious and expensive. In addition, there is some concern over mercury and other contamination that may be present in some fish oil supplements and many (if not most) brands are simply rancid (a major cause of fish burps.)
Fish oil has many benefits to your health, so it’s important that you not overlook including it regularly in your diet. Consider the tradeoffs of getting your fish oil from foods versus supplementation, and make an informed choice of which way to go – either way will be a smart decision.