Does Fish Oil Lower Cholesterol And Blood Pressure

What The Research Tells Us

Fish Oil Omega-3 And Diabetes

The results showed that among those with high blood pressure, taking fish oil supplements lowered both systolic and diastolic blood pressure by a small amount . There was no change in blood pressure among those with normal blood pressure.

Fish-oil supplements are not recommended as an alternate therapy for people who have been prescribed blood pressure-lowering medications. However, eating fatty fish or taking fish oil supplements may be an additional strategy for helping to lower blood pressure and maintaining heart health.

High & Low Cholesterol Foods Big Changes

The most important thing to understand about cholesterol in food, is that the advice dramatically changed in 2015.

Before 2015, we were told to limit our cholesterol intake from food to less than 300 mg per day. As we have learned more about the way cholesterol works in the body, the DGA has changed that advice so there is now no limit .

Why?

Because as the DGA puts it, there is no longer any adequate evidence for placing a limit on dietary cholesterol. It has no significant effect on the cholesterol levels in our blood . In other words, eating cholesterol does not raise our cholesterol levels. The connection just isnt there.

So eggs for example are not the high cholesterol food to be avoided that they used to be. They are actually packed with great nutrition. This also means there are no high LDL cholesterol foods to avoid. High cholesterol foods do not mean high blood levels or test levels, just as foods with low levels will not reduce high test results.

That said, you still need to be sensible. Fats are not bad and never have been, not even saturated fat. Just keep balance in mind. Trans-fats however are bad and should be avoided as much as possible these are not real fats but fats that are generated mainly by high levels of processing. But then we already know highly processed foods are not good choices anyway.

Food can however affect your cholesterol levels in other ways. As we have already covered with fish oil specifically.

Interactions And Adverse Effects

References

Omega-3 fatty acids exert a dose-related effect on bleeding time however, there are no documented cases of abnormal bleeding as a result of fish oil supplementation, even at high dosages and in combination with other anticoagulant medications.28 High dosages of fish oil may increase LDL cholesterol levels, but the clinical relevance of this finding remains unclear.14,15 Other potential side effects of omega-3 fatty acids include a fishy aftertaste and gastrointestinal disturbances, all of which appear to be dose-dependent.2

Significant amounts of methylmercury, polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, and other environmental contaminants may be concentrated in certain species of fish, such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tile-fish .29 In March 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency issued a new statement29 advising women who may become pregnant, women who are pregnant, breastfeeding mothers, and young children to avoid eating some types of fish and to eat fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury. These recommendations29 are summarized in Table 3 . According to a recent survey,30 farmed salmon have significantly higher levels of polychlorinated biphenyls and other organochlorine contaminants than wild salmon. There is disagreement among researchers, however, about the amount of farmed salmon that is safe to eat. High-quality fish oil supplements usually do not contain these contaminants.

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Fish Oil Helps Lower Blood Pressure

Disclaimer: Results are not guaranteed*** and may vary from person to person***.

Roughly one-third of Americans are living with hypertension and even fewer have their high blood pressure under proper control. As a result, there are numerous drugs and dietary options available to help people lower their blood pressure and better reduce their risk of complications such as heart attack or stroke, and among them is fish oil.

Fish oil helps to lower blood pressure and should be considered when looking for options to manage hypertension. The effects of fish oil on lowering blood pressure have been repeatedly documented.

Lifestyle Changes To Lower Blood Pressure

3 Herbal Treatments For High Blood Pressure Natural Home ...

Since fish oil alone wont likely stop hypertension, you should try combining it with some of these other natural methods as a way to lower your blood pressure.

Exercise: A brisk 30 minutes per day spent doing physical activity can help keep blood pressure manageable. Although you dont need to do this every day, consistency is important so dont take more than a single day off in a row. Preferred activities include walking, jogging, swimming, or dancing. Your doctor can be consulted about other possible exercises that will be most suited to your specific health situation.

Lose weight: Being overweight increases your blood pressure, and it also increases your chance of developing conditions that can further provoke blood pressure, such as sleep apnea or coronary issues. The good news is that taking steps such as exercising or incorporating more fruits and grains and less salt and sugar into your diet can lower blood pressure on their own, so you can enjoy a two-for-one benefit!

Eat more fruit and less salt: Fruit is a good source of potassium particularly bananas which helps mitigate the impact sodium has on your blood pressure. However, potassium cant lower your blood pressure as well as youd like it to unless your potassium intake is greater than your sodium intake, so as you try to eat more fruit you should take steps to eat less salt as well.

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Foods that Raise Blood Pressure

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Liquid Fish Oil Vs Capsules

Capsules offer several advantages, but those who have difficulty swallowing capsules may still prefer the liquid form.

Whether you plan to use liquid or capsules, always consult with your doctor first because people on certain medications or those with seafood allergies or various medical conditions may not be able to take fish oil.

Liquid Fish Oil Pros

People who have difficulty swallowing large pills or capsules might prefer liquid fish oil, which goes down your throat more easily. As refinement and filtering procedures have improved, fish oil has become far more palatable, and many manufacturers market fish oil that is sweetened and flavored to improve palatability.
You can add the fish oil to a salad or mix it into juice or a smoothie to further mask the flavor.

Liquid Fish Oil Cons

Once it has been opened, liquid fish oil is more vulnerable to going rancid. Exposure to light, heat and air expedites the oxidation of the oil, and oxidized fish oil may raise levels of LDL cholesterol, per ConsumerLab. Once you open a bottle of liquid fish oil, store it in a dark place to help prevent it from going rancid.

Fish Oil Pills Pros

Fish Oil Pills Cons

A small number of people have allergic reactions to the gel capsule, which is made from the same substance as gelatin. Many gel capsules are made from body parts of pigs and cows, making them non-kosher and off-limits for certain people.

Tip

How Does Fish Oil Lower Blood Pressure

The long-chain omega-3s, EPA and DHA, are though to increase the production of signalling molecules that have beneficial effects on heart rate, heart work load and arterial dilation. DHA appears to be more important for heart health than EPA. This study, for example, used a fish oil that supplied DHA:EPA in a ratio of 1.4to 1 roughly the same as is naturally found in marine sourced fish oils.

While DHA and EPA enriched fish oils, and algae extracts, are available in supplement form, you can obtain this lower level of EPA and DHA by eating two or three portions of oily fish per week, such as mackerel, herring, salmon, trout, sardines, pilchards, fresh tuna , as shown in the table below.

Type of Fish

0.08g

Other sources of omega-3s include wild game meat such as venison and buffalo, grass-fed beef and omega-3 enriched eggs.

For more information on how fish oils can lower your blood pressure, visit omega-3 fish oil.

Image credit: foodonwhite/shutterstock

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What Happens If I Incorporated Dietary Changes And My Cholesterol Is Still Not Within Recommended Ranges

If youve made some dietary changes and you still havent seen results, try incorporating phytosterol into your diet. Phytosterol is similar to the bodys cholesterol and can block cholesterol from being absorbed into your body.

Phytosterol can lower your cholesterol by 10% and your LDL by 14%, she says. Aim to get about 2 grams of phytosterol a day. Some common food and dietary supplements include high sterol or stanol esters be sure to read the labels.

Small Decreases In Blood Pressure Could Save Thousands Of Lives

Use Fish Oil For Lower Cholesterol Levels

The analysis found that hypertensive study participants who received the Omega 3s DHA and EPA had an average decrease in systolic pressure of 4.51 mm Hg, while diastolic pressure fell an average of 3.05 mm Hg, compared to the placebo group.

Results from this study build on a wealth of prior data indicating that EPA+DHA intake reduced the risk of cardiovascular events,said Adam Ismail, executive director of the Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s . It is now well-established that EPA and DHA reduce triglycerides and blood pressure and even highly critical meta-analyses have found that they reduce cardiac death risk by 9 percent.

When measuring blood pressure, even small reductions can have a significant clinical impact, added Dominik D. Alexander, PhD, MSPH, senior author of the meta-analysis.

For example, a paper published in Circulation reports that in a very large international study called INTERSALT, conducted across 32 countries, each 2 mm Hg drop in systolic blood pressure reduced coronary mortality by 4 percent, stroke death by 6 percent, and total mortality by 3 percent.

The Circulation paper also calculated that among Americans ages 45 to 64, a three percent decrease in mortality would mean 12,000 fewer deaths annually in that age group, while a 4 percent reduction in mortality would save about 16,000 American lives a year.

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Why Are Omega 3 Fats Good For Health

There has been lots of research into Omega 3 fats and oily fish and how they can improve heart health.

In countries where people eat more oily fish, such as in the Mediterranean, Greenland and Japan, fewer people have heart disease compared to countries where people eat very little oily fish, such as the UK.

The Omega 3 fats EPA and DHA can help protect the heart and blood vessels from disease: They can help:

lower triglycerides
lower blood pressure
keep the rhythm of your heart steady.

In the past, higher levels of the Omega 3 fats EPA and DHA in the blood have also been linked with a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. There is still research on-going, but doctors think that the benefits come from eating foods that contain omega 3s rather than over-the-counter supplements. However some high-dose Omega 3 supplements may be prescribed by your doctor to treat hypertriglyceridaemia.

The Good And Bad Of It All

There are two types of cholesterolLDL cholesterol is considered bad, and HDL is good.LDL cholesterol contributes to the buildup of fatty plaques in your arteries, which can interfere with blood flow.

Over time this causes high blood pressure and increases your risk of cardiovascular disease. HDL is considered good because it scavenges LDL and removes it from your blood, taking it back to your liver to be processed and then excreted.

Cholesterol can easily build up in your system because it is naturally produced by your body and can be ingested from certain animal products. Diets that are high in cholesterol like red meats, saturated fats, and whole-fat dairy products allow for excess cholesterol in your body.

When this happens, your HDL cholesterol has a difficult time scavenging all the LDL, and it accumulates to dangerous levels.

Triglycerides are fats that store excess energy from your diet. When combined with HDL or LDL, these fats cause the plaque accumulation in your arteries that leads to cardiovascular problems.

Because triglycerides can combine with both types of cholesterol and because HDL cannot scavenge all the LDL from your blood, the best approach to heart health is to reduce all levels. Dietary changes can achieve this, as can adding beneficial fatty acids to the mix.

You can always opt for a high-quality omega-3 supplement, but there are plenty of foods sources available to add to your diet. The best food sources for omega-3 fatty acids include:

How Does A Vegetarian Get Omega 3

Ask the Pritikin Health Experts

This question to the Pritikin Health Experts ended with: Fish oil supplements dont do the job, correct? That is likely correct. Recent studies have called into question the effectiveness of supplements in providing protection against heart disease.

Good vegetarian sources of omega 3 fatty acids include tofu and dark leafy greens.

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What Are Normal Healthy Cholesterol Levels Anyway

Fish Oil & Cod Liver Oil Lower Cholesterol

Firstly, bear in mind when you have your cholesterol levels tested that the results are not entirely reliable. Your LDL level is not actually measured, its an estimate. And the formula used to calculate your levels makes some assumptions.

The results can also vary significantly from test to test. How stressed you are at the time of the test, the time of day, if you fasted properly or not. Even reasons as seemingly obscure as how long it was since you had some sun exposure . All can affect your test results!

That said, various organizations have produced guidelines as to what they believe are healthy cholesterol levels.

In the USA people are advised total cholesterol should be below 200 mg/dL, that LDL should be below 100 mg/dL and triglycerides below 150 mg/dL . Confusingly the UK and Australia suggest figures as low as 155 mg/dL and as high as 213 mg/dL respectively.

Just remember that requirements for accuracy and precision allow for errors anywhere from 15% below to 15% above the real value. And that the real value can vary as mentioned above anyway.

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What Is Krill And Where Can It Be Found

Krill is actually a crustacean, which looks just like the shrimp and could be mistaken for one. They usually inhabit cold aquatic habitats mostly the ocean and serve as a delicious source of food for other larger sea animals such as the whales, seals and fish.

The oceans off Canada, Antarctica and Japan are popular sites where you can spot krill. There have been controversies surrounding the harvesting of krill as some claim that harvesting it could affect other species, which have been dependent on it for food such as the larger fishes.

Krill are harvested for use as a source of food for home krill oil capsules, or for commercial aquariums.

Now, lets talk more about krill oil.

Cholesterol 101 Its Not As Bad As You Think

Firstly lets briefly define what cholesterol is, and how it affects the body.

Your body needs cholesterol, and actually makes it all by itself in the liver. Our bodies use it to make cells, for making vitamin D and hormones.

We cannot function without cholesterol.

So there is really no such thing as good or bad cholesterol.

To transport cholesterol around, our bodies use something called lipoproteins. These are just little packages that move through our blood delivering various substances. You have probably already heard of two of these called LDL and HDL . There are others too.

But LDL is not bad cholesterol because its not even cholesterol. Its a lipoprotein, and just the delivery guy.

LDL carries fresh cholesterol, and HDL carries used cholesterol, most of which is recycled by the liver.

So why is LDL often referred to as bad?

Because too much cholesterol in the blood stream is known to contribute to clogging up arteries . And LDL is the delivery guy while HDL is the clean-up guy.

Which means of course you want the two in balance. If you had no LDL your body could not function. So LDL itself is not bad either, but having too much of it can be.

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Cardiac Mortality Sudden Death And All

The Diet and Reinfarction Trial 4 was one of the first studies to investigate a relationship between dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids and secondary prevention of myocardial infarction. In this study, 1,015 men were advised to eat at least two servings of fatty fish per week, and 1,018 men were not so advised. At the two-year follow-up, the men who had been advised to consume fish had a 29 percent reduction in all-cause mortality but no reduction in the incidence of myocardial infarction.4

Sudden death caused by sustained ventricular arrhythmias accounts for 50 to 60 percent of all deaths in persons with coronary heart disease .5 To date, the largest, prospective, randomized controlled trial on the effects of omega-3 fatty acids is the GISSI-Prevenzione Trial.6 This study included 11,324 patients with known CHD who were randomized to receive either 300 mg of vitamin E, 850 mg of omega-3 fatty acids, both, or neither. After three and one-half years, the group given omega-3 fatty acids alone had a 45 percent reduction in sudden death and a 20 percent reduction in all-cause mortality.6