How Fish Oil Helps In Blood Pressure Management?!

How Fish Oil Helps In Blood Pressure Management?!
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When it comes to controlling your blood pressure, fish oil may be helpful. As a big source of omega-3 fatty acids (a type of polyunsaturated fat considered beneficial for the health), it’s typically sourced from such fish as salmon, halibut, tuna, herring, and mackerel. Taking fish oil in dietary supplement form or increasing your intake of omega-3-rich fish is purported to fight high blood pressure (a condition commonly referred to as hypertension) as well as to keep blood pressure in check.

Reason behind It’s Use; As a Blood Pressure Manager
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In preliminary research on animals, scientists have observed that fish oil may help improve endothelial function. The endothelium (the layer of cells lining your blood vessels) carries out lots of physiological processes that have an impact on cardiovascular health. In turn, endothelial dysfunction is closely linked with many cardiovascular issues (like high cholesterol and atherosclerosis along with high blood pressure).

There's also some evidence that consumption of fish oil may help increase the elasticity of your arteries. An age-related health problem, stiffening of the arteries appears to contribute to the development of high blood pressure.

The Logic Behind Fish Oil and Blood Pressure Management
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Some research shows that fish oil supplements may aid in blood pressure control.

In a research review published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology in 2013, for instance, investigators sized up 17 previously published studies (with a total of 1,524 participants) testing the effects of fish oil supplements in people with normal blood pressure or high blood pressure. Findings from the eight studies in people with high blood pressure found that use of fish oil supplements led to a significant reduction in both diastolic blood pressure (it’s the pressure when the heart is at rest between beats) and systolic blood pressure (while pumping blood, it’s the pressure with which the heart beats).

While data from the nine reviewed studies in people with normal blood pressure indicated that use of fish oil supplements also reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure in such individuals, the review's authors deemed these reductions "non-significant." What's more, the review concluded that the modest effects of fish oil supplements on blood pressure suggest that the supplements should not be used as an alternative to blood-pressure-lowering drugs.

Caution
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Fish oil is likely safe for most people when taken in doses of three or fewer grams per day, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH caution that taking more than 3 grams of fish oil daily may inhibit blood clotting and increase risk of bleeding. What’s more, high doses of fish oil may interfere with immune system activity.

Use of fish oil may trigger a number of side effects, including nausea, heartburn and bad breath.

To increase your fish oil intake without using supplements, consider including oily fish like menhaden, trout, herring, sardines, anchovy, bluefish, mullet, sturgeon, salmon, tuna, and mackerel in your diet. According to the NIH, about 1 gram of omega-3 fatty acids is provided by a 3.5-ounce serving of these fishes.

Fish Oil Alternative for Blood Pressure Management
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Although adopting healthy lifestyle practices such as following a balanced diet with a limited salt intake, exercising regularly, using stress-reducing techniques, avoiding smoking, and watching your weight is the best approach to blood pressure management, it's possible that certain natural remedies may also help you achieve and/or maintain healthy blood pressure. These remedies include herbs like hawthorn and garlic, as well as such substances as green tea and cocoa extract.

Other Uses for Fish Oil
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In addition to possibly lowering blood pressure, fish oil may help enhance heart health by fighting heart disease, protecting against hardening of the arteries, and lowering cholesterol levels.

Stay BP Controlled and Healthy!