Is Fish Oil Good For Cholesterol? – Health Benefits, Risks Explained!

Of course, fish oil is suitable for high cholesterol. Fish oil is good for your heart health. You may wonder how fish oil is beneficial for cholesterol. In this article, we will discuss whether people should take fish oil for cholesterol and the benefits of fish oil for health. 

What is Fish Oil?

Fish oil is a fat derived from the tissues of oily fish. The fat used for fish oil comes from some oily fish such as herring, salmon, and mackerel. Fish oil is available in the form of liquid or capsules. Fish oil can be included in almost diets. People consume this fish oil as a supplement for different health conditions. Omega-3 fatty acids are rich in healthy fats like fish oil. Therefore, omega-3 fatty acids are also known as fish oil and vice versa. 

There are three types of omega-3s you can find in fish oil. They are,

• Eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA)
• Docosahexaenoic acid(DHA)
• Alpha-linolenic acid(ALA)

EPA and DHA have more health benefits compared to alpha-linolenic acid.

Is Fish Oil good for cholesterol?

Yes. fish oil is good for your cholesterol. Fish oil is used as a supplement for several diseases. It is one of the best healthy fat that lowers the chance of heart disease. It improves the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and helps in the growth of a fetus during pregnancy. People also consume healthy fat for its anti-inflammatory effects. Let’s look at each health benefit in detail.

• Reduce triglycerides and cholesterol

Some research shows omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial for reducing triglyceride levels. It is a bad fat similar to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol that boosts cholesterol levels. 

• Reduce heart disease

As aforementioned, fish oil helps to reduce heart disease. Some research shows People who consume fish oil at least twice a week have a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases. Taking fish oil as a supplement is good for your heart health.

• Reduce high blood pressure

Multiple studies show that people who consume omega-3 fatty acids have reduced high blood pressure. It is more beneficial for people with moderate to severe high blood pressure. 

Other Health Benefits of Fish Oil

Fish oil is equally beneficial to other parts of the body. Let’s look at some of the benefits of taking fish oil.

• Support eye health 

The use of omega fatty acids reduces the greater risk of eye diseases. Eating fish is linked to reducing the risk of AMD. similar to this, fish oil supplements are also doing the same purpose. Previous studies recommend that consuming a high dose of fish oil for up to 19 weeks will improve vision in people with AMD.

• Beneficial for skin disorders

As you all know skin is the largest organ in the body. Skin protection is always important as other organs. The skin contains omega-3 fatty acids. In addition, fish oil supplements help to reduce skin disorders such as psoriasis and dermatitis.

• Support pregnancy and early life

Fish oil is an essential component that is needed for early growth and body development. Regarding pregnancy, omega-3s help in breastfeeding and improve fetal brain development. Consuming fish oil during the pregnancy period helps to protect from allergies and is equally good for the visual development of infants. 

• Helps to reduce depression

Nowadays, depression is an increasing mental disorder that affects millions of people around the world. Omega fatty acids are rich in EPA. It helps to reduce depressive symptoms.

The American Heart Association recommends that eating fish at least twice a week is good for your health. Especially lake trout, coldwater fish, herring, sardines, and tuna are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. It is best to include it in your diet.

A person with high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels may consist of more omega-3 fatty acids in their daily intake. However, the World Health Organization recommends that eating one to two portions of fish each week will be beneficial to your heart health.

Fish oil contains vitamins A and D and it helps to strengthen your bones. Fish oil provides greater health benefits than the omega-3s found in plant resources. 

What are the risks of taking Fish Oil?

According to the National Center For Complementary and Integrative Health, fish oils don’t affect you badly. But for some people, it may affect some side effects. It results in some kind of allergies in some people.

For others, it works well and doesn’t cause any side effects.it totally depends on your body. Some of the possible minor side effects are Diarrhea, Nausea, Heartburn, Headaches, and odorous breath and sweat. If you take any supplements, they can show some side effects on your body.

If you take fish oil supplements, it’s better to seek advice from a healthcare provider. They can identify the possibilities of side effects regarding the consumption of fish oil. Some research evidence says that fish oil doesn’t deal with your good cholesterol.

It increases LDL cholesterol levels and improves triglycerides and good cholesterol. Therefore, speak with your doctor if you are decided to include fish oil in your diet.

How can you lower cholesterol?

As you all know omega-3 fatty acids are vital in improving good cholesterol. The component, fish oil is the main source that helps to lower cholesterol. There are many ways you can adopt to lower cholesterol.  Some of the effective ways are, 

Diet

If you have cholesterol, then you should follow a proper diet. It is an essential factor that prevents forming excessive fat in your blood. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), diet is one of the factors that lowers a person’s risk for cardiovascular disease. People with high cholesterol should strictly avoid saturated fat. Palm oil, dairy products, palm oil, and red meat are the main source of saturated fat. Cut all the foods that contain saturated fat from your daily menu. Replace these foods with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, legumes, lean meats, and low-fat dairy products. 

Lifestyle changes

Lifestyle changes can influence a person’s cholesterol level. An unhealthy lifestyle is the main reason for cholesterol deposits. An unhealthy lifestyle means alcohol consumption, smoking, and lack of exercise affects high cholesterol. Therefore, a healthy lifestyle is mandatory for keeping a balanced cholesterol level in the body. In order to improve good cholesterol, you have to do proper exercise, quit smoking, limit alcohol, and maintain a moderate body weight. 

Medication

Medication is mostly used for people with high cholesterol. when n you can’t control your cholesterol by following a diet and proper lifestyle, then you need help with certain medicines to improve your cholesterol levels. Statins are the most commonly used medicine for balancing high cholesterol. It has side effects too. However, it is used as a solution for high cholesterol. 

Conclusion

Fish oil can be used to reduce cholesterol to a limited level. But at the same time, you have to ensure safety while using fish oil as a supplement.

In some cases, doctors do not recommend consuming fish oil in their diet. The DHA in fish oil can elevate LDL cholesterol.

It may affect people with high cholesterol. Speak with your doctor before making dietary and lifestyle changes.