Why Should You Care About Fish Oil? Omega 3 and Fish Oil Benefits Explained!

My partner and I recently acquired fishing poles with the hope of catching some of our own wild salmon. I have never fished before in my life, but I am very intrigued by the idea of connecting to my food sources and becoming more self-sufficient (well, I guess I did "fish" for crawfish as a child in a swampy pond, but other than that!). 

This got me thinking about fish oil and all the propaganda about omega 3 fatty acids and their benefits. Any person who has walked through a grocery checkout has likely seen some magazine cover announcing the benefits of omega 3s. But what does this mean exactly? 

I love science very much, so I sought out to explain the mechanisms behind fish oil in my video below. But before you watch the video, I want to add a note about the video. 

After watching the video, I asked my friend what they learned. And they responded, "fish oil is good, oils from chicken (and other omega 6 oils) are bad". I want to clarify that in no way is this video meant to label one food or another as "bad".

Omega 6 fatty acids are considered more inflammatory. Yes, that is true. But inflammation is really important actually!

Say you cut your leg walking through a swamp, catching crawfish. Inflammation swells the area, making it harder for any microbes in that area to circulate through the body. The added heat make it harder for microbes to multiply. And the pain helps us remember to guard the area and be more gentle with that body part while it heals. That doesn't sound so bad, right?

This issue with inflammation is when it goes unchecked and when it is unbalanced and chronic. And one way inflammation can become more balanced is through decreasing omega 6 fatty acids and increasing omega 3 fatty acids. 

So, with that background information, I present a video lesson on omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, featuring my own hand drawn cartoons!! Enjoy!

Be well and wish me luck at fishing! 

-Dr. Lauren 

**Remember, nothing in this newsletter is meant to be taken as medical advice. Please consult a trained professional for your specific needs.**