It's now estimated that individuals with a
higher dietary intake of EPA reduce their risk of heart
disease by roughly 47% compared to those individuals who do not eat
fish.
The essential fatty acids in fish oil, known as
omega-3s (mainly EPA), not only are important for a
healthy heart and the cardiovascular system, but play a critical
role in the health of your skin, joints, cell membrane structure, nervous
system, fight depression and make kids smarter.
When researchers measured the level of the omega-3
fatty acids EPA and DHA within red blood cells, they found that they
had discovered one of the most significant predictors of heart
disease called the omega-3 index.
This index was a better predictor of coronary heart disease than other established markers such as total, LDL, or HDL
cholesterol; C-reactive protein; and homocystiene. A low omega-3
index score resulted in the least protection and the greatest score
resulted in the most protection. The omega-3 index for those
individuals with the greatest protection consumed the equivalent of
1,000 mg of EPA a day. Most experts recommend a daily dosage
of 1,000 mg of EPA. Higher doses may be required
for therapeutic applications.
The
large majority of scientific trials using high grade Omega 3 Ethyl
EPA point towards this natural supplement as being very beneficial
for many conditions. The argument about the DHA rages on and
probably will until some solid scientific evidence is presented to
us . In the mean time a product with a high EPA to DHA ratio is
considered more beneficial by leading doctors.
