It is difficult to find a person to whom in childhood parents were not allowed to drink fish oil. The reason for this was simple: it is useful. And yet not many drank it, since fish oil had an unpleasant smell and taste. Only the most persistent, probably, consumed it without any problems. Let's understand what fish oil is and why it is needed.
Fish oil: application
In the days of the USSR, after certain studies, fish oil was banned. For many years he was remembered only in a nightmare. And only a few years ago they started talking about him again, they began to sell him in pharmacies, and he was given a considerable amount of his time by research associates of research centers. And it’s not in vain.
The fact is that fish oil is a valuable source of vitamins A and D, as well as omega-3 fatty acid. So, vitamin A helps to improve vision, supports the health of the skin, hair, digestive system, respiratory system. Vitamin D is primarily responsible for the health of teeth and bones, and it also helps to reduce nervous excitability.
If we talk about Omega-3, then the properties of this acid can hardly be underestimated. If it is present in the body in sufficient quantities, then you can forget about increased blood coagulability, high blood pressure, problems with the work of the heart, impaired brain function, etc.
Since vitamins A, D and Omega-3 acid are not independently produced by the human body, their deficiency must be compensated by eating foods containing them. But it has already been proven that no other product contains as much omega-3 as this acid in fish oil.
Fish oil: release forms
Previously, it was produced only in liquid form. But not so long ago, smart people got the idea to release fish oil in capsules. In this case, there is no need to taste it. The capsule itself is not harmful to the body, but once it enters the stomach, it breaks down, and its contents (i.e. fish oil) begin to be used for their intended purpose.
It is worth noting that during the Soviet era, fish oil was extracted from cod liver. Then it was proved that this is unsafe, because the liver, like a sponge, is able to absorb chemical and toxic substances. It is for this reason that he was banned from releasing. Today, most of this valuable fat comes from the muscle tissue of cod. It is believed that this is much safer.
It is believed that fish oil, which is sold in capsules, is less effective than that which can be consumed in liquid form. In fact, there is no difference. Moreover, encapsulated fish oil is practically not affected by light and oxygen. If, nevertheless, it was purchased in liquid form, then you need to store it in a dark jar in the refrigerator. The disadvantage of liquid fish oil is that it is not stored for a very long time in open form, in a word, it’s definitely not worth buying them for the future.
How to take fish oil
It is important to remember that the course of its administration is quite long. There will obviously be few weeks here. To make up for the lack of vitamins and omega-3s in the body, you need to eat one or two capsules daily. The course of admission is a month and a half, after which you need to take a break for three months.
Contraindications
It turns out that even fish oil can not always be used. So, it is contraindicated in the case when the body contains an excess of calcium, vitamin D, kidney failure, pulmonary tuberculosis, an increase in the thyroid gland and urolithiasis are observed. With caution, it should be taken by the elderly, women during pregnancy and lactation. That is why, before deciding to take fish oil (especially for children), you should definitely consult a doctor about this.