Fish oil: health benefits and harms, how to take, release form, composition, indications and contraindications

Once upon a time, his reception was recommended to all children of the Soviet Union. Fish oil was something of a panacea for all childhood illnesses and guaranteed a good appetite for the child. Today it is not prescribed to everyone in a row - this practice has outlived its usefulness, but this remedy in capsules of a beautiful amber shade continues to be very popular among people. All thanks to its rich composition.

What are the benefits of fish oil

The main components of the product are polyunsaturated fatty acids:

• palmitic;
• oleic;
• stearic;
• linoleic;
• arachidonic, etc.

In lower concentrations, it contains butyric, acetic, valeric, capric acids. In addition, the composition of fish oil contains vitamins D and A, as well as some mineral salts - bromine, phosphorus, iodine, sulfur.

All these substances determine the beneficial properties of the drug, which consists in the prevention of the development of many cardiovascular diseases. The thing is that omega-polyunsaturated fatty acids lower blood cholesterol levels, thereby preventing the progression of atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, etc.

In addition, they are the same:

• reduce the likelihood of insulin resistance and diabetes;
• participate in the formation of cell walls, their power plants, the electrically insulating shell of neurons, connective tissues.

Due to the presence of vitamin D, fish oil was the main prevention of rickets in children. Due to the easy oxidizability of the drug, nitrogenous material is retained, which is necessary for building tissues. This gives grounds to use fish oil for anemia, night blindness, during the recovery period after operations and serious illnesses. It is often combined with other drugs to enhance the effect.

How to take fish oil properly

Before you know how to take it correctly, you need to understand the intricacies of the choice. Not every product labeled "fish oil" is suitable for oral consumption.

There are three types of fish oil:

• brown;
• yellow;
• White.

The first one has an unpleasant smell and taste, and all due to poor cleaning, the presence of bile and a large amount of poisonous ptomin. This variety is used exclusively for technical purposes.

Yellow is used in some medical fields, but only white is suitable for oral administration. But there are some subtleties here too. Thus, the main active components of fish oil are eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids. In an effort to reduce the cost of the product, manufacturers reduce their concentration in it, but to cover the daily requirement, 1 g of these acids is required. The less of them there will be in the finished product, the more capsules a person will have to take to fill the deficit, and therefore spend more money on the purchase.

Once upon a time, taking fish oil was complicated by the appearance of a gag reflex in many people. The thing is that it was used in a pure liquid form. In children, it quickly became a habit, especially if they accompanied the reception with the use of a crust of black bread.

There is no need to force yourself today. Fish oil is sold in capsules, and the person taking them does not feel any specific taste or smell. Still, some people cannot tolerate this product. When consumed on an empty stomach, disorders of the digestive tract may appear:

• diarrhea;
• stomach ache;
• cramping;
• flatulence.

The instruction for the drug states that fish oil should be taken 1-2 capsules three times a day. This should be done after meals with plenty of warm or cool water. It is not recommended to chew the capsules. In this case, the shell will be damaged and the contents will come out, which can cause a gag reflex in a sensitive person.

Keeping fish oil in capsules in the mouth for a long time is also not worth it, otherwise the gelatin that is part of the shell will make it sticky, making it difficult to move along the pharynx and esophagus. The duration of the drug intake is determined by the doctor. It is usually taken within one month.

Contraindications

Although fish oil is not a medicine, but only a biologically active food supplement, it has a number of contraindications. These include:

1. Hypersensitivity to the components of the drug.
2. Calciuria.
3. Idiopathic hypercalcemia.
4. Any diseases of the liver and kidneys in the acute and chronic period.
5. Urolithiasis.
6. Pancreatitis, including chronic.
7. An excess of vitamins A, D in the body.
8. Pulmonary tuberculosis in active form.
9. Gallstones.
10. Inflammatory skin diseases in the acute period.
11. Thyrotoxicosis.
12. Cancer neoplasms.
13. Pregnancy, lactation.
14. Children up to age 7.

The drug is taken with caution when:

1. Heart failure.
2. Organic lesions of the main "motor" of the body.
3. Stomach ulcer and 12-duodenum.
4. Alcoholism.
5. Atherosclerosis.
6. Hypothyroidism.

With catarrhal diseases of the digestive system, taking fish oil can further impair their work. The same can happen with any febrile illness.

The benefits of taking fish oil are enormous, but it is not recommended to take it on your own without a doctor's recommendation, otherwise you can harm your health. How do you take this dietary supplement? What result did you manage to get, or maybe you didn't notice it at all? Share your experience in the comments and help others sort out controversial issues.

7 reasons to take fish oil:

Sources:

• https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Рыбий_жир
• https://health.mail.ru/drug/rybiy_zhir