Fish oil is obtained by consuming fish or taking supplements that contain essential fish oils. Fish oil is especially rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential fatty acids that have several health benefits. Fish including salmon, Tuna, Mackerel, Sturgeon, Mullet, Bluefish, Anchovy, Sardines, Menhaden, Herring, Trout, etc. are loaded with fish oil which is also known as omega-3 fatty acids.
Estimates suggest that about 3.5 ounces of fish can provide approximately one gram of omega-3 fatty acids. Fish oil is also loaded with other essential nutrients and minerals including Vitamins E, A, and B complex, Calcium, Iron, Vitamins D and C.
Though fish oil is considered to be beneficial for overall health of an individual, too much fish oil is associated with several side effects.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Fish Oil?
Fish oil is considered to be beneficial in the treatment and management of a wide range of ailments and conditions. Fish oil is loaded with Omega-3 fatty acids which are considered to have beneficial properties like lowering the blood pressure, lowering the levels of triglyceride in blood, etc. which is considered beneficial in preventing cardiac disease and stroke.
Further, fish oil has been acclaimed as the brain food and eating fish is beneficial in mental health conditions like psychosis, depression, ADHD, Alzheimer’s disease and other disorders which are associated with poor memory functions.
Fish oil is also beneficial in treatment of glaucoma and a host of other eye disorders. Fish oil is beneficial for females as it helps in reducing breast pain, abdominal cramps and pains during menstruation and also reduces the risk of miscarriages.
Though fish oil has such wide ranging benefits, excessive consumption of fish oil, beyond the recommended dietary intake of the oil is often associated with a host of complications. Too much consumption of fish oil can be detrimental to overall health of an individual. In general consumption of three grams or less per day is considered safe and is not associated with any side effects.
Side Effects Of Too Much Fish Oil
Some of the common side effects associated with consumption of too much fish oil include the following,
- Too much fish oil can often be associated with bad breath, heart burn, and loose motions and belching. In some cases, the condition may often be associated with skin rash and nosebleeds. Taking fish supplements or fish oils with regular food can help reduce some of these complications.
- Taking too much fish oil is also linked with reduced ability of the immune system to fight infections. This is a cause of concern in individuals with a poor immune system or individual suffering from conditions like HIV and AIDS.
- Excessive consumption of fish oil can also increase the level of Low Density Lipoproteins, the bad cholesterol in the blood, which in turn increases the risk of atherosclerosis, myocardial infraction and stroke.
Fish Oil Overdose Symptoms
Some of the distressing symptoms associated with consumption of too much fish oil include the following,
- Too much fish oil increases the risk of internal bleeding as it slows down the natural clotting process.
- Overdose of fish oil is also associated with allergic reaction which is characterized by gastrointestinal distress and skin rash.
- Excessive fish oil consumption is considered to aggravate the symptoms of Bipolar disorder, Depression, Diabetes and Hypertension.
- Too much fish liver oil can result in familial adenomatous polyposis, which is pre-cancerous condition.