Fish oil is a form of fatty acid that is derived from the tissues of oily fish. It contains the omega-3 fatty acids, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which are what has gained the most attention with regard to health research over the last few years.
Research has shown that fish oil offers many health benefits, but the strongest evidence points to fish oil benefits for heart health. Fish oil has been shown to:
- Lower triglycerides — fats which are unhealthy in high levels (its role in high cholesterol, however, is unclear)
- Cut the number of strokes in people with heart disease
- Prevent heart disease
- Slow the build-up of atherosclerotic plaques, also called hardening of the arteries or atherosclerosis
- Slightly reduce blood pressure
