Fish Oils

The term 'fish oil' refers to the oil derived from the tissues of oily fish such as salmon and sardines. There are several different types of oil each with slightly different properties but growing evidence suggests these oils are important for healthy growth and development and they may also protect us from diseases such as heart problems and cancer.

Will fish oil help even if I mostly eat junk food?

Yes is the answer. A recent study* from the University of Liverpool has found that omega-3 fish oils can reverse some of the negative effects that junk food has on the brain. This is because certain bad fats in the diet interfere with nerve growth but an intake of omega-3 helps prevent and reverse this damage.

The Inuit paradox

The traditional diet of the Inuit used to puzzle people. These dwellers from the frozen North would gorge on fat and eat little in the way of fruits and vegetables and yet their incidence of heart disease was negligible. How was this possible? The answer came down to the nature of the fats being consumed. The Inuit diet of cold-water fish and sea mammals is rich in polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids. Whale blubber for example contains 70% of heart-friendly monounsaturated fat and nearly 30% omega-3s. And as we now know - not all fats are equal.