“So, why is fish oil good for you?” The question comes up periodically. The full answer is a really a long one (see Barry Sears’s book The Omega Rx Zone), but here’s a nutshell version.
Fish oil is a rich source of a category of fatty acids called omega-3s (specifically EPA and DHA). The ratio of omega-3 fatty acids to another category called omega-6s is important to the function of a whole lot of hormonal and cellular processes in the body–including a lot of things having to do with insulin response (and the chain of hormonal reactions that it sets off….), inflammation, blood cholesterol management, and immune-system, cardiovascular, and neurological function, etc.
Unless you supplement with omega-3s, pretty much everyone in the U.S. gets way (way!) too many omega-6s and not enough omega-3s. Fish oil is an easy–and relatively inexpensive–way to help restore the balance. The super-short answer is: it’ll help you lose weight, control cholesterol and blood pressure, regulate hormone levels, and generally stay healthier.
If you’re taking any medications, it’s always a good idea to check for contradictions, of course. Especially folks on blood thinners. (On the other side of the coin, fish oil and a Zone-like diet can reduce the need for a lot of medications, especially cholesterol-lowering ones.) In some cases, folks can get their doctors to actually prescribe it (and therefore insurance to pay for it).
Dr. Barry Sears says that these products are directly related to the production of “good eicosanoids” which prevent blood clotting, cardiovascular illness and other diseases of the blood vessels.
