Fish oil is making headlines yet again. Study results published in the journal Cancer revealed that people who took fish oil while undergoing chemotherapy treatment were able to stave off weight loss and muscle deterioration.
Folks, this is a big deal. Muscle wasting and weight loss during chronic illnesses, called cachexia, is a huge problem for people dealing with cancer. And in this particular study, nearly 70 percent of the participants who took fish oil either gained or maintained their muscle mass.
This is wonderful news. Whenever a nutritional supplement shows benefits like these, I’m even more excited about getting the word out. The dose used in the study was around 2 g daily; however, I recommend that everyone—regardless of health status—take 2-8 g of high quality fish oil each and every day.
Total-Body Protection
The reason I recommend fish oil so wholeheartedly is because the essential fatty acids it contains, particularly DHA and EPA, have many profoundly positive effects throughout the body. Fish oil:
• Protects against heart disease
• Reduces inflammation throughout the body
• Ameliorates symptoms of depression
• Staves off sudden cardiac death and arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythms)
• Alleviates arthritis and joint pain
• Supports normal cognitive function and memory
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. There’s really no reason why fish oil shouldn’t be part of your daily supplement regimen.
Eat Plenty of Fish Too
In addition to 2-8 g of supplemental fish oil daily, you should also eat a few servings of cold-water, low-mercury fish per week. Safe species include (but are not limited to) flounder, herring, salmon, sole, and trout. To keep your fish dishes healthy, the best preparation methods are baking, sautéing, or grilling.
