Fresh Healthy Body

Fish Oil and cholesterol has always been linked to each other. Many people claim that fish based oil reduces cholesterol build up in the body. Experts say that a diet rich in fish, particularly cold water fish, decreases cholesterol level in the body.

According to studies, have a diet rich in fish or take supplements of fish oil and cholesterol will not be too much of an issue. This is a big deal for individuals with a family history of hypertension and heart diseases.

While fish oil is certainly not a cure, it is a great means to prevent heart attacks, strokes and high blood pressure due to its capability to reduce bad cholesterol. Several studies have been made to suggest that fish oil and cholesterol nicely complement each other. To understand the relationship of fish oil and cholesterol, we have to look at the components of fish based oil.

Fish oil contains a fatty acid called omega 3. While the word “fatty” might sound bad, omega-3 actually does wonders for the body. It is the active ingredients in fish based oil responsible for lowering cholesterol levels.

Oil from fish reduces the build-up of a harmful type of unsaturated fat known as triglycerides while, at the same time, increasing the levels of good cholesterol in the body. Fish based oil acts as a blood thinner of sort, which means less chances for blood to clot which in turn means lowered chances of suffering from a heart attack or a stroke.

Some research has also been conducted which proves that oil from fishes such as salmon and tuna reduces the risk of heart attacks caused by irregular heart rhythm. This study was conducted using heart attack survivors as the respondents.

In an announcement made by the American Heart Association in 2002, fish based oil was said to reduce the risk of sudden death in heart attack survivors by half. This means that oil from fish doesn’t completely prevent heart attacks, but it does prevent sudden death.

The debate of fish based oil and cholesterol continues. While few experts claim that the omega-3 found in fish related oil can and does reduce cholesterol levels, some just are not convinced enough. According to sceptics, daily intake of fish based oil’s omega-3 improves high density lipoprotein (HDL), the good cholesterol, level by 1-3% which reduces the risk of cardiac arrest by 3-9%, however it raises the levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL), the bad cholesterol level by 5-10% which means increased risk by 10-20%.

Some experts say that fish oil does not increase LDL cholesterol levels but instead, lowers it. However, sceptics have yet to find conclusive evidence of that claim. Sceptics say fish oil actually contains cholesterol in itself.

Believers of fish based oil say that even though fish oil has cholesterol, it is in a very small amount. In a capsule of fish oil, the cholesterol is about 1mg cholesterol per 1000mg. They say this is not a big factor in the increase of bad cholesterol levels and maintain that fish related oil does more good than bad for the body.