Researchers have discovered that fish oils promote longevity and healthy aging. The components in fish oil help to counter free radicals, which cause damage to the body cells as you advance with age. Fish oils are rich sources of Omega-3, which extend the life expectancy of body cells. Oily fishes such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines, trout and herring contain Omega-3. The oil is usually extracted from fish to make Omega-3 nutritional supplements.
Omega-3 is vital in slowing the damage in telomeres, the small cap at the end of chromosomes that fight the aging processes. The young and the healthy have longer telomeres, which get shorter with the passage of time, making the body vulnerable to age related diseases. Shortened telomeres trigger diseases brought on by age and define the limits of human life expectancy.
Alleviating rheumatoid symptoms
Omega-3 also reduces the risk of chronic inflammation that starts plaguing most parts of the body with the advancement of age. This can go a long way in preventing stroke and rheumatoid arthritis. Patients who consume fish on a regular basis have reported a remarkable decrease in joint tenderness and morning stiffness they had been suffering from. However, you must remember that fish oil does not act as a pain killer, but only reduces the symptoms.
Benefits of fish oil in cardiac diseases
Even though fish eaters are known to consume more cholesterol than non-fish eaters, research shows that the frequency of fatal heart disease among them is lesser. Intake of fish oil helps reduce the heart's work load which it must deal with on a day to day basis.
Omega-3 also helps maintain normal blood pressure, which also helps in stabilizing the condition of the heart. Consumption of Omega-3 fatty acids even reduces the tendency of the blood to clot (also known as thrombosis).
Fish oil for better sight
The anti-ageing benefits of fish oil include preventing macular degeneration that occurs with age. Omega-3 fatty acids ensure healthy circulation of blood to the retina, maintaining the strength of blood vessels around the eye.
Combating keratosis
Fish eaters are also less likely to develop keratosis or wart like skin spots, which appear as you grow older. Keratosis can also occur with constant exposure of the skin to the rays of the sun. The consumption of fish rich in Omega-3 is vital for people who have keratosis, to prevent the spots from spreading further. Keratosis is a condition that could often lead to skin cancer.
Prevention of Alzheimer's disease
Regular consumption of Omega-3 goes a long way in preventing age-related cognitive decline. Fish oil is also a major source of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), which reduces the risk of neo-vascular age related muscular degeneration. Experiments have proved fish eaters are even less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease.
Aiding the prevention of mental disorders
The supplements in fish oil help prevent mental ailments like schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder etc. Consumption of Omega-3 fatty acids promotes the proper functioning of dopamine and serotonin, thereby preventing degeneration of the brain's signaling system. When combined with specific drug therapy, the right dosage of fish oil having a high content of Omega-3 fatty acids helps to regulate mood swings in patients suffering from various mental disorders.