Omega-3 is commonly understood as fatty acids that help improve human health and have a positive effect on the functioning of all organs and the entire body as a whole. They take part in the creation of new cells, support the functioning of the nervous, cardiac and vascular systems. To stay healthy, it is important to ensure that you get enough omega-3 in your body through food.
- How and how much to take omega-3
- Do pregnant women need omega-3?
- Do children need omega-3?
- Contraindications and adverse reactions
- Interaction with other drugs
- Storage conditions and shelf life
Indications for use
Omega-3 is taken for various conditions and problems:
- help with mental disorders;
- maintain healthy skin;
- maintain eye health;
- help with weight loss;
- reduce the likelihood of cardiovascular diseases;
- have a beneficial effect on the course of pregnancy;
- improve liver function;
- reduce the risk of allergic reactions;
- strengthen bones.
Omega-3s are especially beneficial for older people. The supplement is considered an excellent prevention of senile insanity, absent-mindedness, and improves memory. Many people take it for diabetes to control weight.
Features of the drug
The greater the deficiency of vitamins and essential minerals, the weaker the immune system. This seriously affects the physical condition of the human body and his psyche. The result is susceptibility to a large number of different infectious and inflammatory diseases.
Taking various vitamin complexes can reduce the risk of developing pathologies. Therefore, the question of how to store fish oil, which is the most popular product among vitamin complexes, always remains relevant. The answer is obvious: you just need to create the proper conditions for the drug.
How and how much to take omega-3
Fatty acids, which can be purchased over the counter without a prescription, are sold in the form of gel capsules for internal use. It is best to take the supplement at the same time each day. It is important to strictly follow the instructions for taking omega-3 capsules.
You need to take the supplement 1 capsule three times a day with meals. If taken before meals, the result will not be noticeable. Capsules must be swallowed whole.
The maximum permissible daily dose of omega-3 has not been established. But many experts assure that to maintain health, taking 200-250 mg per day is enough. For serious illnesses, the dose can be increased to 2000 mg per day.
Children from 12 months can be given 500 mg per day. Every year the dose can be increased little by little.
For noticeable results, you need to take the supplement every day for 2-3 months. Afterwards, you can take a break for 1-2 months and resume the course again. Only an experienced doctor can determine a more accurate dosage and duration of the treatment course.
Omega-3 can be obtained in small quantities from regular foods.
How to tell if fish oil has gone bad. Why is fish oil dangerous?
Moyo Clinic researchers say people with fish or seafood allergies should avoid consuming fish oil. Since eighty-five percent of the people I have worked with are allergic to salmon, I strongly recommend that everyone avoid consuming fish oil. In addition, it can cause a number of other complications, from liver problems to bipolar affective disorder.
Fish oil in combination with other medications can be harmful to the body. If taken along with medications designed to stabilize blood pressure, it may increase the risk of heart attack and gastrointestinal bleeding in those who are particularly sensitive due to the thickness of the blood. More than twenty-five million Americans suffer from diabetes. Fish oil can cause high blood sugar levels and does not mix well with many common medications, such as metamorphine.
Fats are very capricious, they spoil quickly and often turn out to be irritants. Researchers from the New Zealand Food Research Institute analyzed a large number of commercially available fish oil capsules and concluded that the contents of many of them began to spoil long before their expiration date. A study conducted in Norway, where ninety-five percent of the world's fish oil comes from, found that a significant portion of fish oil spoils faster than it should. Scientists say that if you burp after taking fish oil - this is one of the most common complaints - you should immediately get rid of the entire package, since in this case it has already spoiled.
Try not to take any medications during the process to give your liver a break from processing harmful substances. In addition, I recommend refraining from consuming any nutritional supplements, as well as fish and fish oil (for more details, see the tab on the dangers of fish oil). However, if you are taking any medications regularly, do not stop taking them without consulting your doctor.
During your cleanse, be sure to drink your daily amount of water to help your body. You can also drink unsweetened, decaffeinated herbal tea. Some believe that a hot shower or sauna, if possible, helps the process - this will release even more toxins through the pores. In addition, any calming practices, such as yoga, meditation or long walks, will help you. You will be able to focus and appreciate how hard your body is working.
Are Omega 3D essential for our health? Sure, but first make sure salmon doesn't irritate you and check with your doctor to find out how fish oil will interact with other medications you take. And don’t expect a miracle to happen after taking it.
Do pregnant women need omega-3?
For pregnant women, omega-3 plays an important role. The supplement has a positive effect on the formation of the baby’s organs and the development of the fetus itself. According to research, children whose mothers constantly took omega-3 are distinguished by strong immunity, developed mental abilities, and good coordination. It is especially important to take in the 1st and 3rd trimester of pregnancy.
In addition, omega-3 prevents the appearance of bad mood. Taking the supplement is an excellent prevention of possible complications during pregnancy, including miscarriages.
With a lack of omega-3, there is a risk of postpartum depression. Stress and mood swings are also possible during pregnancy. External problems are also noted: dry skin, joint pain, absent-mindedness, memory impairment.
What is vitamin D and its role in the body
Vitamin D is one of the most important biologically active substances synthesized in the body, or more precisely in the skin, under the influence of sunlight. Today, most city residents spend very little time in the fresh air, much less allow themselves to bask in the gentle rays of the sun. Therefore, if previously a deficiency of this vitamin was mainly found in children, now the vast majority of adults are in a similar state. This raises a very pressing question about the need for additional introduction into the diet of foods and preparations containing its predecessors.
Previously, a disease such as rickets was very common in pediatrics, the main cause of which was a lack of vitamin D. But the use of fish oil containing vitamin D precursors solved the problem.
Residents of northern regions, where there is little sun, especially suffer from a lack of vitamin D. Therefore, for them additional sources of this compound are:
- milk and fermented milk products;
- egg yolks;
- seafood.
However, getting the right amount of vitamin D from food is extremely difficult. Therefore, today special preparations and dietary supplements (dietary supplements) are used to compensate for its deficiency.
Providing the body with the required amount of vitamin D every day is very important for maintaining health and normal well-being. After all, it takes part in a lot of different biochemical processes, and also has a positive effect on metabolism, the body’s ability to resist all kinds of viral infections, as well as oxidative stress. Moreover, by maintaining normal vitamin D levels, the risk of cancer and fetal malformations during pregnancy is reduced.
Low levels of this compound in adults contribute to the development of osteoporosis, i.e. a decrease in bone density and an increase in its porosity. As a result, the risk of fractures, including vertebral compression fractures, increases sharply, even with a minor impact or simply a sudden movement. That is why vitamin D is very often used in the treatment of diseases of the spine and the musculoskeletal system in general.
In addition, with vitamin D deficiency in the body, the following are observed:
- sleep disorders;
- worsening mood, depression, depressive states;
- tendency to gain excess weight;
- cognitive disorders (deterioration of memory, attention, ability to concentrate);
- frequent colds;
- premature aging;
- increased risk of developing diabetes;
- accelerated wear of joints, which leads to the development of arthrosis, osteochondrosis and their complications in the form of protrusions, intervertebral hernias, etc.
Therefore, it is imperative to maintain normal vitamin D levels. If this cannot be achieved naturally, i.e. through exposure to sunlight, then special dietary supplements should be used. But recent research has yielded stunning results that show that vitamin D is, in fact, a steroid hormone. Therefore, today it is possible to start taking drugs based on it only after determining its concentration in the blood and obtaining low values indicating a deficiency.
Features of taking vitamin D
There are 2 types of vitamin D preparations: based on cholecalciferol and calcitriol. In the first, the active ingredient is an inactive form of vitamin D, which is extremely difficult to achieve an overdose of when taken. This allows it to be used to gently replenish vitamin D deficiency. Calcitriol is an active form of vitamin D, the use of which is indicated only when its level in the blood is critically low. Preparations with this active substance are prescribed exclusively by a doctor and require regular monitoring of treatment results.
But to normalize the level of vitamin D in the body and improve well-being, it is not enough to simply take medications and dietary supplements containing it. This must be done correctly, since the precursors of this hormone that enter the body with food are poorly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract when:
- diseases of the gallbladder that provoke disturbances in the outflow of bile, including cholecystitis and bends of the bile duct, since the absorption of vitamin D requires the direct participation of bile;
- inflammatory bowel diseases and dysbiosis;
- obesity, since the lion's share of vitamin D entering the body accumulates in adipose tissue;
- genetic disorders leading to a decrease in the number of vitamin D-sensitive receptors.
On average, an adult needs about 600-1000 IU of vitamin D per day to cover all the body's needs. This amount is contained in approximately 2-4 teaspoons of fish oil. If you significantly exceed this norm, it is possible:
- decreased appetite;
- increased irritability;
- pain in muscles and joints;
- rigidity of the walls of blood vessels;
- increased heart rate;
- nausea and vomiting.
Do children need omega-3?
Omega-3s are very important for a child. The supplement has a positive effect on the functioning of the brain, heart and other organs, improves vision, and supports psychological well-being. If there is a shortage of this useful substance in a child’s body, excessive activity and problems with emotional background may occur.
Before you start giving your child omega-3, nutritionists advise adjusting his diet. It is worth adding fatty fish. If children do not like fish, then unrefined raw flaxseed oil can be given instead. Omega-3s are found in large quantities in the following foods:
- salmon;
- herring;
- shrimps;
- mackerel;
- anchovies;
- beef;
- walnuts;
- dairy products (milk, yoghurt);
- eggs;
- juices
Does the biological additive have expiration and storage dates?
Fish oil is a product of natural origin . This additive has an oily consistency and a yellow to transparent color. This product contains unsaturated fatty acids, as well as fat-soluble vitamins. Can be used for various forms of vitamin deficiency, for the prevention of certain diseases and a poor diet.
This product is obtained from the liver of ocean fish. The production uses technologies that exclude heat treatment. These production methods help preserve all active substances, but this shortens the period suitable for consuming all forms of biological additives.
Contraindications and adverse reactions
You should avoid taking the drug if you have an individual intolerance to at least one component. Other contraindications include:
- allergic reactions to any type of fish;
- for serious bleeding;
- in the first days after surgery;
- with an active form of tuberculosis;
- for certain diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver and kidneys.
Adverse reactions may occur in the form of allergies, gastrointestinal disorders, vomiting, nausea, constipation or diarrhea, dizziness, and headaches. In rare cases, skin problems may occur.
There may be cases of overdose, manifested by the side effects described above.
If undesirable symptoms appear, you should immediately stop taking omega-3 and begin symptomatic treatment.
Taking omega-3 does not affect the ability to drive vehicles and other machinery.
Duration of use of the additive
For a dietary supplement, this depends on the form of release and the concentration of the active substance. This period of time is influenced by the microclimate of the room in which the product is stored. When exposed to light and heat, fatty acids begin to rapidly oxidize.
In capsules
The oil solution in the capsules is protected from oxidation after opening . Therefore, for this form of release, only the expiration date from the date of production is taken into account. It usually lasts 2-3 years.
In a bottle
This value depends on the manufacturer. But usually the shelf life is a year, and after opening the bottle 3 months.
