The oily taste of a yellow liquid from a teaspoon is remembered by those who in childhood stood more than one line for the tasteless fatty slurry of fish oil. Today it is sold in capsules with different flavors, a longer shelf life, and it has become easier and more pleasant to drink.
Who introduced fish oil intake into fashion?
In the distant 19th century, the Norwegian pharmacist Peter Möller noted an observation for himself: the groups of people who had cod liver oil in their diet had a healthier and more resilient body (one might say that the pharmacist Möller is the “inventor” of fish oil).
His idea was taken up by Soviet scientists, suggesting that people do not receive polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) from food, and until 1970, fish oil was given to every child in schools and kindergartens.
If we lived in the 19th century, we would certainly have interviewed the pharmacist Peter Möller. But the nutritionist, chairman of the Public Association “Nutritionists of Russia” Anton Shekhetov helped us to understand this issue in detail.
– What is the use of fish oil?
– It has a ratio of omega-3 – polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are part of cell membranes and blood vessels. The ratio of acids is important for maintaining the homeostasis of fat metabolism – in other words, for fat metabolism to work like a clock; worked independently and well.
Smart: Omega-3 reduces triglyceride concentration by decreasing the concentration of very low density lipoproteins. “Simple”: it reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
Plus, omega-3 affects blood pressure and hemostasis and slightly increases blood clotting time.
– Are there any contraindications?
– It’s important to remember that omega-3 acids can raise cholesterol levels in some patients with hypertriglyceridemia, a condition in which triglyceride levels in the blood are high.
– Is it possible (and is it necessary) to take fish oil for prophylaxis without consulting a doctor?
– Consultation with your doctor before taking nutritional supplements is needed – after all, omega-3 PUFAs can reduce the synthesis of thromboxane A2 (it is involved in the process of blood clotting). So the doctor’s control is a prerequisite to eliminate the risk of bleeding.
The doctor explained what is the “specialization” of polyunsaturated fatty acids in our body:
– Normalization of the work of the heart and blood vessels;
– Maintaining eye and brain health;
– Beneficial effect on the skin;
– Prevention of a number of bone and joint diseases;
– Prevention of the development of cancer;
– Strengthening the immune system.
What else you need to know about omega-3 PUFAs – you can get them only from food: they are not synthesized in the body. Contained mainly in ocean fish – and a healthy person needs to eat fish twice a week to keep the body in supply of PUFAs.
But there is a shortage of inhabitants of rivers and seas in the diet – and this is not uncommon. In this case, the omega-3 deficiency can be obtained in the form of bioactive supplements. The daily requirement is one gram, but the dosages depend on the lifestyle: with active mental and physical exertion, the doctor can increase the patient’s dosage to a maximum of 3 grams per day.
* Taking vitamins, dietary supplements and sports nutrition is carried out under the supervision of a doctor
The material was prepared by Alexandra Goryunova