Some Benefits of fish oil
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Although it smells very fishy, fish oil turned out to be very useful for human health. In addition to containing vitamin A and vitamin D, fish oils also contain polyunsaturated fatty acids that can improve the intelligence and the immune system of children under five. For adults, eating fatty fish may also ward off cancer, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and coronary heart disease.
When compared to other animal fats, fatty fish or better known as fish oils contain very little cholesterol. This is very beneficial to health because excess cholesterol can cause health problems. And also to raise awareness about the need for good nutrition to support health has encouraged increased consumption of fish oil in the world.
This is based on the fact that fish oils (especially fish) contain many polyunsaturated fatty acids (polyunsaturated fatty acids / PUFA). Polyunsaturated fatty acids are very beneficial to the process of intelligence, vision, and the immune system. In addition, fish oils are very useful in tackling the problem of atherosclerosis (clogged arteries) and coronary heart disease.
Based on the accumulation of oil, the fish can be classified into two groups. First, groups of fish that keeps oil in the liver (fish liver oil), such as mackerel, cod, and sharks. The second is groups of fish that keep oil in the meat (fish body oil).
Based on the content of its oil, fish can be grouped into: (1) little fatty fish (lean fish) with oil content less than 2 percent, (2) low fatty fish (low fat) with 24 percent oil content, (3) are fatty fish (medium fat) with oil content of 48 percent, (4) fatty fish (high fat) with oil content of more than 8 percent.
Oil levels in fish vary widely, influenced by many factors: species (kinds) of fish, sex, level of maturity (age), season, spawning cycle, and geographic location. Composition of marine fish oil is more complex, containing unsaturated fatty acid chain length, which is more than freshwater fish.
Unsaturated fatty acid chain length in marine fish oils generally contains 18, 20, and 22 carbon atoms and connected to 36 double bond. While the fatty acid composition of freshwater fish generally contain 16 and 18 carbon atoms, which are connected by 13 double bond. The more carbon chain length and the greater the number of double bonds constituent fatty acids, the greater the role of these fatty acids for health.
Epidemiological studies have shown that there is an inverse relationship between fish consumption and the incidence of coronary heart disease. In the group who ate fish at least 30 grams a day, the risk of death from coronary heart disease was reduced 50 percent compared to the group who did not consume fish. Active substances that play an important role in the relationship are Omega-3 fatty acids.
Fish oil is very different from vegetable oils and land animals. Fish oil generally has a composition of fatty acids with carbon chain length and double bond that many (polyunsaturated fatty acids / PUFA). Fatty acids in fish oil has Omega-3 configuration, whereas in plants and land animals contain very little omega-3 fatty acids it. The oil plants contain fattier acids are configured Omega-6 than Omega-3.
Omega-3 fatty acids are dominant in fish is linolenic acid which is composed of 18 carbon atoms and 3 double bonds, eicosapentaenoic acid/EPA, which is composed of 20 carbon atoms and 5 double bonds, and docosahexaenoic acid/DHA which is composed of 22 carbon atoms and 6 double bonds.
Omega-3 fatty acids often found in marine fish, such as salmon, tuna and anchovies. Fish in cans is not a source of Omega-3 is good, because in the process, fish oil is intentionally discarded and replaced with palm oil, tomato sauce, or salt water as a soaking medium.
Omega-3 fatty acids have proven very useful for health, namely: (1) be hypercholesterolemia (lowering blood cholesterol levels), (2) prevent it from occurring blood clotting pieces thus avoiding the blockage of blood vessels (atherosclerosis) and coronary heart disease prevention, (3) reduce the risk of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, various cancers, skin diseases, and help increase endurance, (4) plays an important role in the process of fetal brain growth.
In conjunction with Omega-3 activity, there are three critical periods in human life, i.e. during pregnancy, lactation, and infancy. During pregnancy, omega-3 fatty acids are transferred through the placenta to the fetus. During the period of breastfeeding, maternal diet obtained will influence the content of omega-3 fatty acids in milk. Thus, the food consumed by the mother during pregnancy and lactation should contain Omega-3 fatty acids in sufficient quantities, especially those derived from the consumption of fish or fish oil concentrates.
Seeing the growth process of the brain is unique and takes place in a relatively short time, poor maternal nutritional status during pregnancy and breastfeeding will affect the growth and disruption of the brain, both in number and completeness of brain cells. The condition can affect memory and intelligence, which can continue into adulthood.
Thus so many benefits from fish oil, some industries competing to make fish oil concentrates. The product is in the form of a mixture or pure, in the form of capsules of EPA and DHA. Concentrated fish oil is coated with gelatin as a patron.
Generally sold in the market is concentrated fish oil in gelatin capsules size 1 gram of vitamin E addition of 1 IU per gram as a stabilizer. This product has been developed by many countries (especially Japan and Korea) as a medicinal ingredient and / or nutritional supplements. Especially for children under five, fish oil is also traded in the form of syrup or emulsion.
World Health Organization (WHO) and the British Nutrition Foundation recommends the addition of DHA in infant formula with the recommended dose of 20 milligrams per kilogram of weight of a normal baby, or 40 milligrams per kilogram of weight premature babies. Adequate intake of DHA will help children to concentrate and make that hyperactive children became calmer.
