Omega-3 fatty acids offer a wide range of benefits for the human body. They're a reliable ally not only during the cold seasons, when colds and viral infections peak, but throughout the entire year. To get a good, lasting effect from them, it's necessary to take them consistently over a long period of time.
In the first article of the series, dedicated to the benefits of taking fish oil, we looked at how this rich source of Omega-3 supports the healthy function of the nervous system. We continue exploring the topic, and in this article we focus on two more important aspects of our health that Omega-3 fatty acids affect.
Caring for a Healthy Immune System
It's a well-known fact that one of the key positive effects of Omega-3 fatty acids is supporting the immune system. But how exactly does this strengthening happen, and can fish oil keep us healthy all year round?
1. They Combat Inflammation
Inflammation is a natural response to various disturbances in health. Although it's a common occurrence, if left unaddressed or if it's asymptomatic, it can persist for a long time and become chronic. It can be the cause of a wide range of discomforts and can trigger various diseases.
Viral infections, stress, and aging are just some of the factors that push eicosanoids (some of the body's most important compounds) “in the wrong direction,” turning them, instead of helping us, into mediators of inflammation. EPA and DHA have the ability to reduce the activity of molecules associated with inflammation, most often by affecting the action of inflammatory eicosanoids.
2. It Eliminates Pathogens
When our body becomes weakened due to a cold or a virus, it starts “seeking” help from all the beneficial substances we supply it with daily. This is where the key role of fish oil supplements comes in.
Once pathogens enter our body, macrophages – a type of white blood cell – recognize them and begin recruiting other immune cells, from both the innate and adaptive immune systems. The goal is to achieve an effective immune response that prevents the illness from worsening. Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly DHA, are direct helpers of macrophages, as they produce cytokines and chemokines – regulatory molecules that support the action of immune cells. Besides strengthening them, fish oil can also activate white blood cells for tissue repair.
3. They Are a Building Block of Cell Membranes
Omega-3 fatty acids are a structural component of cell membranes and, as such, help regulate the permeability of the cell wall. The solubility of lipids in the cell membrane affects how easily substances can enter cells. Since consuming fish oil strengthens cell walls, this also benefits immune cells.
Reducing Anxiety Levels
During and after the global pandemic, people have shown increasingly greater attention to their mental health. It's essential for a person's normal functioning as a social being, and it also regulates many of the body's physiological processes.
Fish oil has an anxiolytic effect (an effect that reduces neurotic and anxious states). It has properties that support a number of functions – it helps with mental clarity, enhances the ability to more easily retain information, supports the body in more stressful and dynamic situations, and helps maintain concentration in people who tend to get distracted easily.
The Studies
Statistical findings show that, in pursuit of a calm mind and reduced anxiety, more and more people are starting to take care of their mental state through consultations with the right specialists, as well as through a diet and supplements suited to their needs.
Numerous studies provide evidence of the positive effects of EPA and DHA on mental health. One of them examined the behavior of a group of medical students, some of whom took Omega-3 for a period of 12 weeks. Blood samples were taken during a period of low stress and again in the days before an exam. The results showed a significant reduction in inflammation and anxiety in the young people during one of their most stressful moments – exam period.
In Conclusion
The positive effects of taking fish oil extend across many levels. A healthy immune system provides us with energy and strength and strengthens our defenses during times of viral illness. Calm and concentration, in turn, are the other key factors for our productivity and mood throughout the dynamics of the workday.
By regularly taking fish oil, we supply our body with vital fatty acids, activating key mechanisms within it. In the next article of the series, we'll focus on its effect on vision and on healthy, radiant-looking skin.
