Does Omega 3 Fish Oil Help with Depression? | Exercise.com Learn: Your Fitness Business Resource

Does Omega 3 Fish Oil Help with Depression?

Tyler Spraul is the director of UX and the head trainer for Exercise.com. He has his Bachelor of Science degree in pre-medicine and is an NSCA-certified strength and conditioning specialist. He is a former All-American soccer player and still coaches soccer today. In his free time, he enjoys reading, learning, and living the dad life. He has been featured in Shape, Healthline, HuffPost, Women's...

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UPDATED: Jun 30, 2021

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  • Omega 3 fatty acids are very important for one’s health.
  • Omega 3 fatty acids play a role in the central nervous system.
  • There have been studies in the linkage between omega 3 and depression.

Omega 3 fish oils have been known to help with a small segment of depression or related disorders that involve mood swings.

According to WebMD, research shows that omega 3 fatty acid supplements are used to help calm down the mood variations that are common in people with bipolar disorder.

After studies have been done on people who have had depression symptoms, they noticed that their omega 3 fatty acids in their red blood cells were low.

Another study done by workers at a general psychiatric ward found that manic-depressive patients who took at least ten grams of omega 3 fish oils per day, reported more improvement in their symptoms than those who took a placebo.

As researchers continue to do tests on the correlation between high fish oil levels and low levels of depression, new ideas for dieting and health are coming about.

Also, remember that exercise is also an important component of your overall health. If you are looking for an exercise routine, look no further. Go PRO today for access to certified personal trainers, workout plans, and more.

Does Your Diet Have an Effect on Depression?

In an indirect way, yes, diet does affect depression. Studies of the link between consuming omega 3 fish oils and depression have opened up new theories.

These studies propose that due to the diets of many Americans, many people are not getting the daily percentage of vitamins and nutrients that they need. While the obesity rate is climbing in the United States, the dieting portion of the population is growing as well.

Once people begin to go on diets, they cut out important nutrients and minerals from their daily meals. As they continue to do so, their omega 3 fatty acids are getting cut out of their diet as well.

This leads to a low amount of omega 3 fatty acids in their red blood cells. The links between low omega 3 fatty acids and depression have researchers wondering if diets are a factor.

Meat, cholesterol and certain fats may be commonly cut out of a diet but that’s three sources of omega 3 fatty acids  Even if a person is dieting they still need to obtain the right amount of nutrients and vitamins, especially their omega 3 fatty acids.

Therefore, many people will take supplements in order to replenish their red blood cells. The replacements in the diet for meat, cholesterol, and fats include items that are low in omega 3 fatty acids. Dieting is not always the best option to keep the human body healthy.

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How Can Someone Boost Their Omega 3 Levels While They Are on a Diet?

Many people are aware that omega 3 fish oils are beneficial to human health. They tend to increase the amount of fish in their diet in order to enable a healthy meal plan that is also rich in vitamins.

However, many people are also aware that consuming too much fish can put an excessive amount of mercury in the bloodstream. This can, in turn, be harmful to someone’s health.

An alternative to consuming fish that is high in mercury would be to indulge in farm-raised fish. However, farm-raised fish may not have the best source of omega 3 fatty acids. It is not certain that these fish were fed the same kind of nutrients that could benefit humans.

While dieters may opt for seafood during their diet in order to benefit health, a diet can also be made more complete by taking an omega 3 fatty acid supplement.

For a successful and healthy diet, it might be suggested that the person includes the important nutrients in their diet and cuts down on their portion sizes. Therefore, it is okay for a person to have a moderate amount of meat, cholesterol, and fat in their diet as long as the portion size is small.

Are There Other Reasons That Omega 3 Fatty Acids Help Depression?

Yes. Omega 3 fatty acids play a large part in the functioning of the central nervous system. Omega 3 fatty acid intake can be directly related to behavioral issues and how the body may experience moods.

If the central nervous system is not obtaining the correct amount of omega 3 fatty acids, it will not function well. Cutting omega 3 fatty acids out of a diet, or simply not obtaining enough of these essential nutrients, may lead a person to suffer from depression or another behavioral issue.

Keep in mind that fish oil or any other supplementation is not enough for your overall health and fitness needs. Exercise is important. Go PRO today for access to certified personal trainers, workout plans, goal trackers, and more!

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