| ys gone by your mother would make you take your | | | | patients reducing the use of anti-inflammatory drug |
| daily dose of cod liver oil. Although that is no longer a | | | | use. |
| usual ritual mom knew a thing about staying healthy. | | | | It is important to note that these studies involving |
| If you follow any of the current health news you know | | | | people with arthritis were also placebo controlled |
| there are good fats and bad fats. The good fats are | | | | meaning that some of the participants took fish oil and |
| polyunsaturated fats which contain essential fatty | | | | some received a placebo, such as soy oil. Neither the |
| acids, or EFAs. These EFAs are divided into two | | | | arthritis patients nor the investigators knew which |
| groups, omega-6 and omega-3. | | | | treatment was received by each patient. |
| It was originally observed in the early 1970s that | | | | In addition, further research has shown that omega-3 |
| Eskimos in Greenland had low occurrences of heart | | | | EFAs can stop production of collagen-degrading |
| disease and arthritis. This was in spite of the fact that | | | | enzymes that break down joint cartilage which is the |
| their diets were high in fat. Research disclosed that the | | | | primary contributor to osteoarthritis. |
| fats they consumed were eicosapentaenoic acid | | | | It should be noted that there are drawbacks to high |
| (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The positive | | | | intake of fish oils These include: |
| benefits for arthritis pain has led to substantial further | | | | - Reduced blood clotting ability which could lead to |
| research. | | | | increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke. |
| It is believed that omega-3 EFAs have significant | | | | - Large doses can cause suppression of the immune |
| anti-inflammatory properties and reduce symptoms of | | | | system. |
| auto-immune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis. | | | | - Large doses can increase glucose levels in people |
| There have been twelve double blind studies involving | | | | with diabetes. |
| patients with rheumatoid arthritis which tested the | | | | - Large doses can cause Nausea, diarrhea, belching. |
| impact of omega-3 EFAs in fish oil. These studies | | | | As far as cod liver oil, that is extracted from the liver |
| varied from 12 to 52 weeks in duration and varied the | | | | of cod and is a good source of vitamins A and D |
| amount of omega-3 in the form of fish oil from 1 to 7 | | | | whereas the essential fatty acids come from the fat |
| grams. The results showed improvements in the | | | | of fish. The best fish for omega-3 EFAs are salmon, |
| arthritis pain symptoms such as the number of tender | | | | cod, mackerel, halibut, tuna, and herring. |
| and swollen joints, grip strength and morning joint | | | | So improve your arthritis symptoms by including more |
| stiffness. Some of the studies also resulted in arthritis | | | | fish or fish oil supplements in your diet. |